EU court again raises sanctions against pumpyansky-what now?

EU court again raises sanctions against pumpyansky-what now?

Luxemburg, Luxemburg - On April 2, 2025, the European Union court again lifted the sanctions against Russian businessman Dmitry Pumpyansky. This decision represents another victory for Pumpyansky, since it was successful in the same court in 2024 when the sanctions were also lifted. In its current decision, the court complained that the Council of the European Union did not provide sufficient, individualized and verifiable evidence in order to maintain the sanctions. It was also found that there is no legal basis for classifying Pumpyansky as a "leading businessman", which is an essential prerequisite for the sanctions.

The sanctions were extended by the EU every six months, but often only with superficial adjustments. This practice is made by Pumpyansky's lawyers, Dr. Lansky and Dr. Goeth, viewed critically. You have requested the immediate cancellation of your client from the sanction list and pointed out that the EU Council could be liable for possible damage should not be deleted promptly.

criticism of the sanctions

The lawyers argue that the ongoing sanctions are unfounded and call on the EU to choose a transparent and legally perfect procedure. This demand underlines the increasing concerns about fairness and the legal foundations of the sanctions, which are often decided without sufficient evidence.

The Pumpyansky case exemplifies the discussion about the effectiveness and the legal framework of economic sanctions, which many are used as political means of pressure. Europe is increasingly faced with the question of how sanctions can be designed legally and whether they actually cause the desired political changes.

For further information on the legal situation of sanctions in the EU and its evaluation, extensive data can be found in the Bundestag document: Bundestag reports on sanctions .