Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2722 of 4 December 2023 implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2023/2722 5.12.2023 COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2023/2722 of 4 December 2023 implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 of 7 December 2020concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses(1), and in particular Article 14(4) 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 Regulation (EU) 2020/1998. (2) On the basis of a review of Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999(2), the Council has decided that the restrictive measures set out therein should be extended until 8 December 2026. (3) Pursuant to Article 14(4) of Regulation (EU) 2020/1998, the Council has reviewed the list of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in Annex I to that Regulation. On the basis of that review, the entries concerning nine natural persons and three entities should be updated. (4) Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 should therefore be amended accordingly, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation. Article 2 This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 4 December 2023. For the Council The President O. PUENTE SANTIAGO (1) OJ L 410 I, 7.12.2020, p. 1. (2) 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/reg_impl/2023/2722/oj 1/102/10 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/2722/oj ANNEX Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 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 into Names Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing Latin script) ‘2. Alexander (Alexandr) Алексaндр Ивaнович Position(s): Chairman of the Alexander Bastrykin has served as chairman of the Investigative 2.3.2021 Ivanovich BASTRYKIN БАСТРЫКИН Investigative Committee of Committee of the Russian Federation (the “Committee”) since January the Russian Federation 2011 (and as acting chairman from October to December 2010). In that position, he oversees all activities of the Committee. Officially, the DOB: 27.8.1953 Committee is presided over by the Russian President. In Alexander POB: Pskov, Russian SFSR Bastrykin’s capacity as chairman of the Committee, he is responsible for (now Russian Federation) serious human rights violations in 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, 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/reg_impl/2023/2722/oj 3/10 Names (Transliteration into Names Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing Latin script) 6. WANG Junzheng 王君正 Position(s): Member of the Party Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the Tibet 22.3.2021 20th Chinese Communist Autonomous Region (TAR) since October 2021. Member of the 20th (Chinese spelling) Party (CCP) Central Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee (December 2022 – Committee (December 2022 – December 2026). Deputy of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC, December 2026); Deputy of February 2023 – February 2027). the 14th National People’s Former Party Secretary of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Congress (NPC, February Corps (XPCC) and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of China’s 2023 – February 2027); Party Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) from April 2020 to Secretary of the Chinese October 2021, as well as Political commissar of the XPCC from May 2020 Communist Party (CCP) in the to October 2021. Former Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Tibet Autonomous Region Committee of the XUAR, from February 2019 to September 2020. Wang (TAR); former Party Secretary Junzheng also held other senior posts in the XPCC. of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), The XPCC is a state-owned economic and paramilitary organisation in the and Deputy Secretary of the XUAR, which exercises administrative authority and controls economic Party Committee of China’s activities in Xinjiang. Xinjiang Uyghur As Party Secretary and Political commissar of the XPCC, Wang Junzheng Autonomous Region; Political was involved in overseeing all policies implemented by the XPCC. In that commissar of the XPCC and position, he was responsible for serious human rights violations in China, CEO of the China Xinjian in particular large-scale arbitrary detentions and degrading treatment Group inflicted upon Uyghurs and people from other Muslim ethnic minorities, DOB: May 1963 as well as systematic violations of their freedom of religion or belief, linked, inter alia, to the XPCC’s implementation of a large-scale POB: Linyi, Shandong (China) surveillance, detention and indoctrination programme targeting Uyghurs Nationality: Chinese and people from other Muslim ethnic minorities. Gender: male 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. OJ L, 5.12.2023 EN4/10 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/2722/oj Names (Transliteration into Names Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing Latin script) 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. 7. WANG Mingshan 王明山 (Chinese Position(s): Deputy of the 14th Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of the 22.3.2021 spelling) National People’s Congress Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and Secretary of the (NPC, February 2023 – Political and Legal Affairs Committee of the XUAR since September 2020. February 2027); Member of Deputy of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC, February 2023 – the Standing Committee of the February 2027). Party Committee of the Former Director and Deputy Party Secretary of the Xinjiang Public Xinjiang Uyghur Security Bureau (XPSB) between 2017 and January 2021. Autonomous Region (XUAR); Secretary of the Political and As Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee of the XUAR Legal Affairs Committee of the since September 2020, Wang Mingshan is responsible for maintaining XUAR internal security and law enforcement in the XUAR. As such, he holds a key political position in charge of overseeing a large-scale surveillance, DOB: January 1964 detention and indoctrination programme targeting Uyghurs and people POB: Wuwei, Gansu (China) from other 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. EN OJ L, 5.12.2023ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/2722/oj 5/10 Names (Transliteration into Names Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing Latin script) 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. 10. RI Yong Gil 리영길 Position(s): Chief of the Ri Yong Gil is the Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army 22.3.2021 General Staff of the Korean (KPA). He was Minister of National Defence of the Democratic People’s a.k.a. RI Yong Gi, RI (Korean spelling) People’s Army (KPA) Republic of Korea (DPRK) from June or July 2021 until December 2022. Yo’ng-kil, YI Yo’ng-kil He was Minister of Social Security from January 2021 until June or July Rank: Vice Marshal 2021. He was also Chief of the General Staff of the KPA between 2018 DOB: 1955 and January 2021. He was promoted to Vice Marshal of the KPA on 14 April 2022. Nationality: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea As Chief of the General Staff of the KPA and as former Minister of (DPRK) National Defence, Ri Yong Gil is responsible for the widespread serious human rights violations committed by the KPA, including by members of Gender: male 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. OJ L, 5.12.2023 EN6/10 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/2722/oj Names (Transliteration into Names Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing Latin script) 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. 18. Valery (Valeriy) Валерий Николаевич Position(s): Security Valery Zakharov, a former member of the Federal Security Service of the 13.12.2021 Nikolaevich ЗАХАРОВ counsellor to the President of Russian Federation (FSB), is the former security counsellor to the ZAKHAROV the Central African Republic President of the Central African Republic (CAR). He is a key figure in the (Russian spelling) (CAR) Wagner Group’s command structure and maintains close links with the Russian authorities. Wagner Group ID: M-5658 Given his former influential position in CAR and his leading role in the DOB: 12.1.1970 Wagner Group, Valery Zakharov is responsible for serious human rights POB: Leningrad, Russian SFSR abuses committed by the Wagner Group in CAR, including extrajudicial, (now Russian Federation) summary or arbitrary executions and killings. Nationality: Russian This includes the murder of three Russian journalists in 2018 whose security was the responsibility of Valery Zakharov. Gender: male EN OJ L, 5.12.2023ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/2722/oj 7/10 Names (Transliteration into Names Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing Latin script) 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 POB: Leningrad, former USSR the Wagner Group and support its deployment, as well as covertly (now St Petersburg, Russian interfering on behalf of the Wagner Group in the various countries that he Federation) is active in. Nationality: Russian The Wagner Group is listed for serious human rights abuses, including 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 710508436 (Russian for supporting and encouraging the acts of the Wagner Group through passport) pro-Wagner Group propaganda and disinformation. 21. Konstantin Константин Position(s): One of the PMC Konstantin Pikalov, code name “Mazaï” (Mazay), is one of the leaders of 25.2.2023 Alexandrovich PIKALOV Александрович Wagner Group Commanders the Wagner Group and is responsible for the operational activities of the ПИКАЛОВ in 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 (Russian spelling) DOB: 23.7.1968 journalists in July 2018. Since April 2023, he is also at the head of a new Nationality: Russian paramilitary group (Convoy) created in November 2022 to take action in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Gender: male 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. OJ L, 5.12.2023 EN8/10 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/2722/oj Names (Transliteration into Names Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing Latin script) 24. Alexander Александр Position(s): Representative of Alexander Ivanov is the spokesperson for the Wagner Group in the 25.2.2023 Alexandrovich IVANOV Александрович ИВАНОВ Wagner Group instructors in Central African Republic (CAR). He is also the head of the Russian the Central African Republic “Officers Union for International Security”, also called the Officers a.k.a. Aleksandr (Russian spelling) Community for International Security (COSI), a Wagner front company Alexandrovich IVANOV; DOB: 14.6.1960 which sends Russian military instructors to CAR. Those instructors are Alexandre Nationality: Russian Wagner Group mercenaries. Alexandrovich IVANOV Gender: male The Wagner Group is listed for serious human rights abuses, including torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, in Address: Bangui, Central several countries, including CAR. African Republic 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. 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 a.k.a. Toe YI the Chief of Military Security Affairs (OCMSA). The OCMSA is Rank: Major-General responsible for the management of detention and interrogation centres in Nationality: Myanmar/Burma 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/reg_impl/2023/2722/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 Name Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing Latin script) ‘8. Foundation for the Place of registration: Moscow The Foundation for the Defence of National Values (FDNV) is associated 25.2.2023 Defence of National (64 Zemlyanoy Val str., with the Wagner Group. The FDNV operates as the public relations arm of Values (FDNV) building 2, office 201, the Wagner Group. It steers pro-Wagner Group propaganda and Moscow, Russian Federation) disinformation campaigns, including to enhance the reputation of the Fund for the Defence of Wagner Group and support its deployment, and engages in covert National Values (FDNV) Website: https://en.fznc.ru/ interference on behalf of the Wagner Group in the various countries that Foundation/organization it is active in. for the Protection of The Wagner Group is listed for serious human rights abuses, including National Values torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, in (FPNV)/(FZNC) several countries, including Libya, Mali and the Central African Republic. Foundation for National FDNV is associated with the Wagner Group and is responsible for Values Protection 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 Khartoum, Sudan Wagner Group secured the exploiting and exporting of Sudanese gold to Agricultural & Animal Russia. Production; Al-Solag; Other information: Mining of Al-Sarraj Mining other non-ferrous metal ores Meroe Gold is associated with the Wagner Group, listed for serious Company Ltd; Al-Sawlaj human rights abuses, including torture and extrajudicial, summary or Associated with: Mining Company Ltd; arbitrary executions and killings, in several countries, including Sudan. Al-Solaj Mining Al Sawlaj for Mining Ltd Through its activities, Meroe Gold also provides support for such abuses Company) committed in Sudan. ﺞﻟﻮﺼﻟﺍ Aswar Multi Activities Co., Ltd OJ L, 5.12.2023 EN10/10 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/2722/oj Name (Transliteration into Name Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing Latin 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 Brigadier General Mohamed widespread, particularly during the ongoing Syrian conflict. Victims have Qasem (deputy commander), reported violent rapes and torture after arbitrary arrests and during General Malik Aliaa (supreme arbitrary detention. commander), The Syrian Republican Guard is part of a systematic approach by the Mohammad Nayouf, Syrian regime to use sexual and gender-based violence to repress and Mohamed Kaddor intimidate the Syrian people, in particular women and girls. (commanders), The Syrian Republican Guard is therefore responsible for serious human President Bashar Al-Assad 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