The European Union on Thursday said it was imposing new sanctions on leading Syrian businessmen and entities directly linked to the Assad regime, including a close associate of the regime.
In a statement published on its official website, the EU said that it was adding eleven prominent businessmen and five entities to the list of those subject to restrictive measures against the Assad regime and its supporters.
“These businessmen and companies are involved in luxury estate development and other regime-backed projects, and as such support and/or benefit from the Syrian regime,” the EU said.
The sanctions list now includes Samer Foz, President of Aman Holding and one of the Assad regime’s close associates and Aleppo MP Hussam al-Qatirji who supports and benefits from the regime through enabling, and profiting from, trade deals with the regime in relation to oil and wheat.
Also on the list are Anas Talas, Nazir Ahmad Jamal Eddine, Khaldoun al-Zoubi, Bashar Assi, Khalid Al-Zubaidi, Hayan Qaddour, Maan Rizqullah Haikal, and Nader Qalei.
The statement also identified the following entities: Rawafed Damascus Private Joint Stock Company, Aman Damascus Joint Stock Company, Bunyan Damascus Private Joint Stock Company, Mirza, and Developers Private Joint Stock Company.
The sanctions include a travel ban to the EU and assets freeze for individuals and entities. They also prohibit individuals and entities from providing funds to those on the list.
In 2017, the European Union imposed similar sanctions on senior Assad regime officials in response to their involvement in the chemical weapons program.
The EU began imposing sanctions on high-ranking Assad regime officials, including Bashar al-Assad and members of his family following the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in 2011 as well as on companies dealing with the regime.
The EU sanctions on the Assad regime, which were consistently strengthened between 2011 and 2014, are one of the toughest sanctions in the EU history. They include a ban on almost all forms of trade with the Assad regime, especially in the oil sector and petroleum products. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
