Federal Palace (Parliament) in BernZURICH, Jan 14 Switzerland joins EU sanctions alliance against six individuals and three legal entities allegedly linked to the international activities of the private security company Wagner, follows from reports published by the State Secretariat for Economics (SECO). In December last year, the European Union imposed sanctions against the so-called «Wagner Group», and also three Russian companies. In addition, three Russian companies for the exploration and production of natural resources in Syria were also subject to restrictions under another European sanctions regime — in Syria — these are Velada LLC, Mercury LLC and Euro Polis LLC.
The head of the French Foreign Ministry spoke about possible sanctions against PMC «Wagner» Switzerland joined the sanctions and imposed restrictions against the Russian Dmitry Utkin, who is considered one of the organizers of the «Wagner group». The list also includes Russian citizens Denis Kharitonov and Sergei Shcherbakov. The Swiss department reported that the corresponding changes were made to the decree on «measures aimed at preventing the circumvention of international sanctions in connection with the situation in Ukraine», they will enter into force on January 14 at 18.00 (20.00 Moscow time). In addition, Switzerland added to the sanctions list on Syria Andrei Troshev, who is called one of the leaders of the group, and Andrei Bogatov, who appears as one of the commanders of the group in the SAR. Restrictive measures have also been introduced against the Russian companies Velada, Mercury, and Euro Polis. According to the Swiss department, Russian Alexander Kuznetsov is included in the sanctions list for Libya for allegedly participating in hostilities in this country. These measures will come into force on January 14 at 18.00. Earlier, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, stated that the EU had groundlessly accused the Russians of being involved in a private military company, and called the sanctions of Brussels illegitimate. She emphasized that the «hysteria» unfolded in the West around this topic testifies, first of all, «to the zealous attitude of some former European metropolises towards the states of Africa and the Middle East, whose sovereignty and independence they were clearly forced to recognize in their time.»
Europeans are trying to stop Russian expansion into Africa
