According to the Guardian, the European Commission (EC) is recommending a 12th wave of sanctions against Moscow, which would restrict dozens of people, including a relative of Vladimir Putin and the son of former president Dmitry Medvedev.
Putin's cousin Anna Tsvileva, the head of the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation, which provides assistance to Russian military engaged in combat in Ukraine, is one of the 47 individuals the panel seeks to include on the lists of designated individuals subject to sanctions.
Ilya Medvedev is on the enlarged list as well; his name and birthdate correspond to those of the former president's only child. He is being pursued for allegedly spearheading a disinformation and propaganda operation in Ukraine.
The inclusion of high-ranking officials' families, including Putin's, is sure to infuriate the Kremlin.
The main components of the plans, which EU leaders must still adopt at their December summit, are measures meant to cut off Russia's trade income. A comprehensive prohibition on the trade of Russian rough diamonds and jewellery utilising stones from the nation's Siberian mines is one of them.
The EU estimates that this might cause the Kremlin's finances to lose more than 4.5 billion euros annually.
The world's diamond capital, Antwerp, is located in Belgium. The country withdrew its objections in the summer, and the G7 adopted the penalties during a summit in Japan. Although the ban had been planned since last year, it wasn't until then that it actually came into effect.
"The ban on Russian diamonds is part of the G-7 effort to develop an international coordinated ban on diamonds, which aims to deprive Russia of this important source of revenue," the recommendation of the commission stated.
Currently, G7 delegates are in Antwerp for three days to observe how the planned ban will operate.
A blockchain record proving the origin of each diamond would be used as a unique identifier for all diamonds of a specific size, estimated to be between 0.5 and one carat, under Belgium's plan.
The ambassadors said that this would cover "between 80 and 90% of the world's diamonds" and provide distributors and sellers with an instant means of distinguishing between legitimate and illicit gems.
As recently as last month, powerful corporations lobbied the G7 countries to postpone the implementation of the tracking system due to the numerous obstacles facing the initiative.
In order to combat individuals who exploit unfair ship-to-ship transfers to conceal the origin or destination of cargo, particularly fixed-price oil, the European Commission also suggested further prohibitions on the sale of used tankers.
Additionally, a number of Russian industries and organisations are targeted by the proposed sanctions, including the arms industry, IT firms connected to the FSB security services, election officials stationed in occupied Ukraine, private military firms like Wagner, and patriotic organisations, some of which have been charged with "militarising... Ukrainian children."
Said to have assisted the Russian military apparatus, the proposed sanctions also target businesses in the civilian sector. "AlfaStrakhovanie," regarded as the biggest private insurance provider in Russia, is one of them. Included on the list of clients for the organisation are the Russian Ministry of Defence, military industry firms, and military vehicles that are utilised by the Russian National Guard in Ukraine.
Targeted was also the Ilyushin Aviation Complex, a top aircraft factory that makes the military transport plane Il-76, which is frequently used to move Russian military people and gear. By 2021, the Russian government claims it is one of the most widely used military aircraft globally, with 24 countries having put it into service.
Sanctions are also being suggested for the creator and operator of Russia's Glonass navigation system, which rivals the US GPS system.
Because of their alleged involvement in arms sales to Russia or other military collaboration, such as the training of Russian army recruits at Belarusian facilities, a number of Belarusian officials were also listed in the proposed penalties.(BGNES)
