# Sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Tags:** ukraine-invasion\
**Created:** [February 23, 2022, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007 "2022-02-23T14:17:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 287

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2022, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanctions-on-russia-for-invading-ukraine/960007/287 "2022-03-04T01:28:19Z")

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> [@Saint\_Cad](#):
>
> Maybe I missed it in the articles, but what is the legal justification for seizing the assets of private Russian citizens?

Fair question. I’m not an expert in EU law, obviously, but the answer seems to be that the Council of the EU, composed of the representatives of the national governments, have passed a series of directives which have placed specific individuals on the sanctions list. The various member states are then required to enact local laws to implement that sanctions list.

Here’s the most recent addition to the list of sanctioned individuals, as far as I can tell, adding a swack of Belerussian military officials to the list. Note that the new list starts at 697, so there are already 696 people on the list.

Here’s the rationale for putting number 697 on the list:

> [@](#):
>
> Leonid Kasinsky holds the position of assistant to the Belarusian Minister of Defence for ideological work in the armed forces. He is also a head of the Main Directorate for ideological work in the Belarusian Ministry of Defence.
> 
> Belarus is participating in the Russian military aggression against Ukraine by allowing Russia to fire ballistic missiles from Belarus into Ukraine, enabling transportation of Russian military personnel and heavy weapons, tanks, and military transporters in Belarus (road and railway transportation) to Ukraine, allowing Russian military aircraft to fly over Belarusian airspace into Ukraine, providing refuelling points in Belarus for Russian military aircraft engaged in activities against Ukraine , and storing Russian weapons and military equipment in Belarus.
> 
> Being a high-ranking member of the Belarusian armed forces, Leonid Kasinsky is participating in the actions of Belarus supporting the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

According to this French government article, the French are not confiscating assets of individuals on the sanctions list, but freezing them (“gel”). The owners can access them, in the case of physical things like boats, but can’t use them in any way or sell them.

> **[Dispositif national de gel des avoirs à but de lutte contre le terrorisme |...](https://www.tresor.economie.gouv.fr/services-aux-entreprises/sanctions-economiques/dispositif-national-de-gel-des-avoirs)**
>
> Site officiel de la direction générale du Trésor

I’ve not found a list of non-miltary types yet, so can’t comment on the rationale for putting them on the list.

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