EU to lift sanctions on ex-presidential advisor, other Yanukovych associates

REUTERS

The decision concerns Andriy Portnov, an ex-adviser to Yanukovych, Olexander Yakymenko, a former head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Ihor Kalinin, ex-chairman of the Security Service of Ukraine, and Alexei Azarov, the son of former Prime Minister Mykola Azarov.

At the same time, LB.ua has reported, citing its sources, that the EU has decided to extend from March 7 its sanctions against other former Ukrainian officials.

However, if there is no progress by May in investigations into the criminal cases against Yanukovych, Elena Lukash, the former Minister of Justice, Dmytro Tabachnik, the former Education and Science Minister, and Ukrainian businessman Sergiy Klyuev, the EU will lift its sanctions against them, according to EU officials.