EU Foreign Affairs Council extends sanctions to five Syrians linked to regime chemical program

LUXEMBURG — In a statement released on Monday following a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Luxemburg, EU sanctions were announced targeting nine people — five linked to the Syrian regime and four involved in the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in the U.K. — as well as the Center for Scientific Studies and Research, the main entity involved in the development of chemical weapons for the Syrian regime.

The sanctioned individuals linked to the Syrian regime are:

• • Colonel Tariq Yasmina, Liaison Officer between the Presidential Palace and the Center for Scientific Studies and Research
  • Khaled Nasri, President of Institute 1000 at the Center for Scientific Studies and Research
  • Khaled Zugheib, President of Institute 2000 at the Center for Scientific Studies and Research
  • Colonel Firas Ahmed, Head of the Security Office of Institute 1000 at the Center for Scientific Studies and Research
  • Saied Saied, Member of Institute 3000 at the Center for Scientific Studies and Research

Restrictive measures consist of a travel ban to the European Union and a freeze on the assets of persons and entities.

Persons and entities in the European Union are also prohibited from making funds available to those on the sanctions list.

The EU began imposing sanctions on economic and political figures, including Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family members after the Syrian revolution in 2011, as well as companies dealing with the regime.

It has also frozen the assets of the Central Bank of Syria, imposed restrictions on many exports and technological equipment to Syria, as well as a ban on the purchase of Syrian oil.

During its session, the EU foreign ministers reaffirmed their commitment to finding a lasting political solution to the conflict in Syria within the framework of the U.N. Security Council Resolution No. 2254 and the Geneva Statement of 2012.