European Parliament passes resolution calling for sanctions to be prepared

The European Parliament approved a resolution on Feb. 6 that calls on the EU member-states to prepare personal sanctions against Ukrainian officials, lawmakers and oligarchs responsible for the violent dispersal of the Maidan protests and deaths of activists. The sanctions would apply to their travel visas, assets and real estate.

The resolution voices its concern that the Ukrainian government continues to engage in political intimidation, repressions, torture and violence against demonstrators. It condemns the escalation of violence against peaceful citizens. Any further violent dispersal of demonstrators or calls for a state of emergency will be considered a criminally liable act and violation of fundamental rights, which will have serious international consequences.

The resolution calls for genuine democratic discussions on the ways and means of ending the confrontation and employing immediate measures to investigate and punish those who applied violence against peaceful demonstrators. It demands from Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych the immediate and unconditional release and political rehabilitation of all demonstrators and political prisoners, including former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

The resolution calls for creating an independent investigative committee, under the guise of an international institution, to investigate all violations of human rights. It mentions the readiness of the EU to sign the Association Agreement once the political crisis is resolved and conditions are met.

The resolution calls for the EU, U.S., IMF, World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and European Investment Bank to continue to prepare a long-term package of financial support for Ukraine. It calls for the Russian Federation to halt its excessive pressure aimed at undermining the sovereign right of its neighbors to freely determine their future. It also calls for efforts to halt the role of European banks in money laundering and tax evasion by Ukrainian companies and businessmen.

Zenon Zawada: Sanctions are the most effective instrument that the West has to resolve this crisis. It will take many more weeks for the EU member-states to each approve the measures but at least the ball is rolling. We have yet to see Yanukovych’s supporters abandon their loyalty at the risk of being targeted by sanctions, and whether their defections would be enough to change the situation in Ukraine. What is clear is that Yanukovych is the only person in Ukraine who is indifferent to sanctions. His ultimate goal is to preserve power at any price.