Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/2721 of 4 December 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2023/2721 5.12.2023 COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2023/2721 of 4 December 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Whereas: (1) On 7 December 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999(1). (2) On the basis of a review of Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999, the Council considers that its application should be extended until 8 December 2026. In addition, the Council considers it appropriate to introduce a review clause related to the existing derogation mechanism. (3) On the basis of a review of the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999, the application of the measures set out in Articles 2 and 3 of that Decision as regards the natural and legal persons, entities, and bodies listed in that Annex should be extended until 8 December 2024. The entries concerning nine natural persons and three entities included in that Annex should be updated. (4) Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 should therefore be amended accordingly, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 is amended as follows: (1) Article 10, is replaced by the following: ‘Article 10 1. This Decision shall apply until 8 December 2026and shall be kept under constant review. The measures set out in Articles 2 and 3 shall apply as regards the natural and legal persons, entities, and bodies listed in the Annex until 8 December 2024. 2. The derogation referred to in Article 4(1) shall be reviewed at regular intervals and at least every 12 months or at the urgent request of any Member State, the High Representative or the Commission following a fundamental change in circumstances.’; (2) the Annex is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision. Article 2 This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Done at Brussels, 4 December 2023. For the Council The President O. PUENTE SANTIAGO (1) Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 of 7 December 2020 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses (OJ L 410I, 7.12.2020, p. 13). ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2721/oj 1/102/10 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2721/oj ANNEX The Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 is amended as follows: (1) in section A (‘Natural persons’), the entries for the following nine natural persons are replaced by the following: Names (Transliteration Names Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing into Latin script) ‘2. Alexander (Alexandr) Алексaндр Ивaнович Position(s): Chairman of the Alexander Bastrykin has served as chairman of the Investigative Committee 2.3.2021 Ivanovich БАСТРЫКИН Investigative Committee of the of the Russian Federation (the “Committee”) since January 2011 (and as BASTRYKIN Russian Federation acting chairman from October to December 2010). In that position, he oversees all activities of the Committee. Officially, the Committee is presided DOB: 27.8.1953 over by the Russian President. In Alexander Bastrykin’s capacity as chairman POB: Pskov, Russian SFSR (now of the Committee, he is responsible for serious human rights violations in Russian Federation) Russia, including arbitrary arrests and detentions. Nationality: Russian Alexander Bastrykin is responsible for the Committee’s widespread and Gender: male systematic repressive campaigns against the Russian opposition, targeting and investigating its members. On 29 December 2020, the Committee launched an investigation into the opposition leader Alexei Navalny, charging him with large-scale fraud. Alexei Navalny and others published articles on Alexander Bastrykin’s ownership of Czech real estate firm LAW Bohemia in the 2000s. In 2022, the Investigative Committee, which Alexander Bastrykin is still chairing, has charged 92 Ukrainian soldiers with crimes against humanity during Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. EN OJ L, 5.12.2023ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2721/oj 3/10 Names (Transliteration Names Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing into Latin script) 6. WANG Junzheng 王君正 Position(s): Member of the 20th Party Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the Tibet 22.3.2021 Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Autonomous Region (TAR) since October 2021. Member of the 20th (Chinese spelling) Central Committee (December Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee (December 2022-December 2026); Deputy 2022-December 2026). Deputy of the 14th National People’s Congress of the 14th National People’s (NPC, February 2023 – February 2027). Congress (NPC, February 2023 – Former Party Secretary of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps February 2027); Party Secretary (XPCC) and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of China’s Xinjiang of the Chinese Communist Party Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) from April 2020 to October 2021, as (CCP) in the Tibet Autonomous well as Political commissar of the XPCC from May 2020 to October 2021. Region (TAR); former Party Former Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee of the XUAR, Secretary of the Xinjiang from February 2019 to September 2020. Wang Junzheng also held other Production and Construction senior posts in the XPCC. Corps (XPCC), and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee The XPCC is a state-owned economic and paramilitary organisation in the of China’s Xinjiang Uyghur XUAR, which exercises administrative authority and controls economic Autonomous Region; Political activities in Xinjiang. commissar of the XPCC and CEO As Party Secretary and Political commissar of the XPCC, Wang Junzheng of the China Xinjian Group was involved in overseeing all policies implemented by the XPCC. In that DOB: May 1963 position, he was responsible for serious human rights violations in China, in particular large-scale arbitrary detentions and degrading treatment inflicted POB: Linyi, Shandong (China) upon Uyghurs and people from other Muslim ethnic minorities, as well as Nationality: Chinese systematic violations of their freedom of religion or belief, linked, inter alia, to the XPCC’s implementation of a large-scale surveillance, detention and Gender: male indoctrination programme targeting Uyghurs and people from other Muslim ethnic minorities. He was also responsible for the XPCC’s systematic use of Uyghurs and people from other Muslim ethnic minorities as a forced workforce, in particular in cotton fields. As Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the XUAR, Wang Junzheng was involved in overseeing all the security policies implemented in Xinjiang, including the aforementioned programme targeting Uyghurs and people from other Muslim ethnic minorities. As Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee of the XUAR from February 2019 to September 2020, Wang Junzheng was responsible for maintaining internal security and law enforcement in the XUAR. As such, he held a key political position in charge of overseeing and implementing the aforementioned programme. OJ L, 5.12.2023 EN4/10 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2721/oj Names (Transliteration Names Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing into Latin script) 7. WANG Mingshan 王明山 (Chinese Position(s): Deputy of the 14th Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of the Xinjiang 22.3.2021 spelling) National People’s Congress (NPC, Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and Secretary of the Political and Legal February 2023 – February 2027); Affairs Committee of the XUAR since September 2020. Deputy of the 14th Member of the Standing National People’s Congress (NPC, February 2023 – February 2027). Committee of the Party Former Director and Deputy Party Secretary of the Xinjiang Public Security Committee of the Xinjiang Bureau (XPSB) between 2017 and January 2021. Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR); Secretary of the Political As Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee of the XUAR since and Legal Affairs Committee of September 2020, Wang Mingshan is responsible for maintaining internal the XUAR security and law enforcement in the XUAR. As such, he holds a key political position in charge of overseeing a large-scale surveillance, detention and DOB: January 1964 indoctrination programme targeting Uyghurs and people from other POB: Wuwei, Gansu (China) Muslim ethnic minorities. Nationality: Chinese As Former Director and Deputy Party Secretary of the XPSB (2017 to January 2021), he held a key position in Xinjiang’s security apparatus and Gender: male was directly responsible for implementing the aforementioned programme. In particular, the XPSB has deployed the “Integrated Joint Operations Platform” (IJOP), a big data programme used to track millions of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region and flag those deemed “potentially threatening” to be sent to detention camps. In his current position and due to his former functions, Wang Mingshan is responsible for serious human rights violations in China, in particular large- scale arbitrary detentions and degrading treatment inflicted upon Uyghurs and people from other Muslim ethnic minorities, as well as systematic violations of their freedom of religion or belief. EN OJ L, 5.12.2023ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2721/oj 5/10 Names (Transliteration Names Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing into Latin script) 10. RI Yong Gil 리영길 Position(s): Chief of the General Ri Yong Gil is the Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army 22.3.2021 Staff of the Korean People’s Army (KPA). He was Minister of National Defence of the Democratic People’s a.k.a. RI Yong Gi, RI (Korean spelling) (KPA) Republic of Korea (DPRK) from June or July 2021 until December 2022. He Yo’ng-kil, YI Yo’ng-kil was Minister of Social Security from January 2021 until June or July 2021. Rank: Vice Marshal He was also Chief of the General Staff of the KPA between 2018 and January DOB: 1955 2021. He was promoted to Vice Marshal of the KPA on 14 April 2022. Nationality: Democratic People’s As Chief of the General Staff of the KPA and as former Minister of National Republic of Korea (DPRK) Defence, Ri Yong Gil is responsible for the widespread serious human rights Gender: male violations committed by the KPA, including by members of the Military Security Command and other KPA units. The Ministry of Social Security of the DPRK (formerly known as the Ministry of People’s Security or Ministry of Public Security) and the Military Security Command are leading institutions in charge of implementing the repressive security policies of the DPRK, including interrogation and punishment of people “illegally” fleeing the DPRK. In particular, the Ministry of Social Security is in charge of running prison camps and short-term labour detention centres through its Correctional Bureau in which prisoners/detainees are subject to deliberate starvation and other inhuman and degrading treatment. As former Head of the Ministry of Social Security, Ri Yong Gil is responsible for serious human rights violations in the DPRK, in particular torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, enforced disappearance of persons, and arbitrary arrests or detentions, as well as widespread forced labour and sexual violence against women. OJ L, 5.12.2023 EN6/10 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2721/oj Names (Transliteration Names Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing into Latin script) 18. Valery (Valeriy) Валерий Николаевич Position(s): Security counsellor to Valery Zakharov, a former member of the Federal Security Service of the 13.12.2021 Nikolaevich ЗАХАРОВ the President of the Central Russian Federation (FSB), is the former security counsellor to the President ZAKHAROV African Republic (CAR) of the Central African Republic (CAR). He is a key figure in the Wagner (Russian spelling) Group’s command structure and maintains close links with the Russian Wagner Group ID: M-5658 authorities. DOB: 12.1.1970 Given his former influential position in CAR and his leading role in the POB: Leningrad, Russian SFSR Wagner Group, Valery Zakharov is responsible for serious human rights (now Russian Federation) abuses committed by the Wagner Group in CAR, including extrajudicial, Nationality: Russian summary or arbitrary executions and killings. Gender: male This includes the murder of three Russian journalists in 2018 whose security was the responsibility of Valery Zakharov. 19. Maxim SHUGALEY Максим ШУГАЛЕЙ Position(s): President of the Maxim Shugaley is head of the Foundation for the Defence of National 25.2.2023 (Russian spelling) Foundation for the Defence of Values (FDNV), an entity associated with the Wagner Group. The FDNV a.k.a. National Values (FDNV) operates as the public relations arm of the Wagner Group and Maxim Maksim SHUGALEI Shugaley’s role in FDNV involves steering pro-Wagner Group propaganda DOB: 24.2.1966 and disinformation campaigns, including to enhance the reputation of the POB: Leningrad, former USSR Wagner Group and support its deployment, as well as covertly interfering (now St Petersburg, Russian on behalf of the Wagner Group in the various countries that he is active in. Federation) The Wagner Group is listed for serious human rights abuses, including Nationality: Russian torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, in Gender: male several countries, including Libya, Mali and the Central African Republic. Passport or ID number: Maxim Shugaley is associated with the Wagner Group and is responsible for supporting and encouraging the acts of the Wagner Group through pro- 710508436 (Russian passport) Wagner Group propaganda and disinformation. EN OJ L, 5.12.2023ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2721/oj 7/10 Names (Transliteration Names Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing into Latin script) 21. Konstantin Константин Position(s): One of the PMC Konstantin Pikalov, code name “Mazaï” (Mazay), is one of the leaders of the 25.2.2023 Alexandrovich Александрович Wagner Group Commanders in Wagner Group and is responsible for the operational activities of the PIKALOV ПИКАЛОВ Africa Wagner Group in Africa, notably in the Central African Republic (CAR). He is accused of being the instigator of the murder of three Russian journalists (Russian spelling) DOB: 23.7.1968 in July 2018. Since April 2023, he is also at the head of a new paramilitary Nationality: Russian group (Convoy) created in November 2022 to take action in Russia’s war of Gender: male aggression against Ukraine. The Wagner Group is listed for serious human rights abuses, including torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, in several countries, including CAR. In his leadership position within the Wagner Group, Konstantin Pikalov is responsible for the serious human rights abuses committed by the Wagner Group in CAR. 24. Alexander Александр Position(s): Representative of Alexander Ivanov is the spokesperson for the Wagner Group in the Central 25.2.2023 Alexandrovich Александрович ИВАНОВ Wagner Group instructors in the African Republic (CAR). He is also the head of the Russian “Officers Union IVANOV Central African Republic for International Security”, also called the Officers Community for (Russian spelling) International Security (COSI), a Wagner front company which sends Russian a.k.a. Aleksandr DOB: 14.6.1960 military instructors to CAR. Those instructors are Wagner Group Alexandrovich Nationality: Russian mercenaries. IVANOV; Alexandre Alexandrovich Gender: male The Wagner Group is listed for serious human rights abuses, including IVANOV Address: Bangui, Central African torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, in Republic several countries, including CAR. In his position as official representative of Russian military instructors, Alexander Ivanov is involved in the serious human rights abuses committed by the Wagner Group in CAR. OJ L, 5.12.2023 EN8/10 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2721/oj Names (Transliteration Names Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing into Latin script) 35. Toe UI Position(s): Deputy Minister of Major-General Toe Ui was appointed Deputy Minister of Home Affairs on 7.3.2023’; Home Affairs 3 February 2023. He is the former second in command of the Office of the a.k.a. Toe YI Chief of Military Security Affairs (OCMSA). The OCMSA is responsible for Rank: Major-General the management of detention and interrogation centres in Myanmar/Burma Nationality: Myanmar/Burma and is also tasked with intelligence gathering. Gender: male OCMSA staff under Ui’s authority use forced nudity, rape, electric shock, burning of genitalia and excessive violence during the arbitrary detention and interrogation of men, women and members of the LGBTIQ community. In his capacity as second in command of the OCMSA, Major-General Toe Ui is responsible for serious human rights violations in Myanmar/Burma, including arbitrary detentions and torture, as well as for systematic and widespread sexual and gender-based violence. EN OJ L, 5.12.2023ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2721/oj 9/10 (2) in section B (‘Legal persons, entities and bodies’), the entries for the following three entities are replaced by the following: Name (Transliteration into Latin Name Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing script) ‘8. Foundation for the Defence of Place of registration: Moscow (64 The Foundation for the Defence of National Values (FDNV) is associated 25.2.2023 National Values (FDNV) Zemlyanoy Val str., building 2, with the Wagner Group. The FDNV operates as the public relations arm of office 201, Moscow, Russian the Wagner Group. It steers pro-Wagner Group propaganda and Fund for the Defence of National Federation) disinformation campaigns, including to enhance the reputation of the Values (FDNV) Wagner Group and support its deployment, and engages in covert Website: https://en.fznc.ru/ Foundation/organization for the interference on behalf of the Wagner Group in the various countries that it is Protection of National Values active in. (FPNV)/(FZNC) The Wagner Group is listed for serious human rights abuses, including Foundation for National Values torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, in Protection several countries, including Libya, Mali and the Central African Republic. FDNV is associated with the Wagner Group and is responsible for supporting and encouraging the acts of the Wagner Group through pro- Wagner Group propaganda, political interference and disinformation. 10. Meroe Gold Co. Ltd Place of registration: Al-jref Meroe Gold is a cover entity for and closely linked to the Wagner Group’s 25.2.2023 Gharb Plot 134 Blok 1h, operations in Sudan. By being affiliated with the Sudanese military, the a.k.a.: Meroe For Agricultural & Khartoum, Sudan Wagner Group secured the exploiting and exporting of Sudanese gold to Animal Production; Al-Solag; Russia. Al-Sarraj Mining Company Ltd; Other information: Mining of Al-Sawlaj Mining Company Ltd; other non-ferrous metal ores Meroe Gold is associated with the Wagner Group, listed for serious human Al-Solaj Mining Company) rights abuses, including torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary Associated with: executions and killings, in several countries, including Sudan. Through its Al Sawlaj for Mining Ltd activities, Meroe Gold also provides support for such abuses committed in ﺞﻟﻮﺼﻟﺍ Sudan. Aswar Multi Activities Co., Ltd OJ L, 5.12.2023 EN10/10 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2721/oj Name (Transliteration into Latin Name Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing script) 14. Syrian Republican Guard Place of registration: Syria The Syrian Republican Guard is an entity responsible for the security of 7.3.2023’. officials and is part of the Syrian security forces. Associated individuals: In its ranks, sexual and gender-based violence against women is widespread, Brigadier General Mohamed particularly during the ongoing Syrian conflict. Victims have reported Qasem (deputy commander), violent rapes and torture after arbitrary arrests and during arbitrary General Malik Aliaa (supreme detention. commander), The Syrian Republican Guard is part of a systematic approach by the Syrian Mohammad Nayouf, Mohamed regime to use sexual and gender-based violence to repress and intimidate the Kaddor (commanders), Syrian people, in particular women and girls. President Bashar Al-Assad The Syrian Republican Guard is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Syria, including torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, arbitrary arrests or detentions, as well as widespread sexual and gender-based violence. EN OJ L, 5.12.2023