Zelensky imposes five-year sanctions against Medvedchuk's ally, his TV channels

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has enacted the National Security and Defense Council decision of February 2, 2021 on the application of sanctions against MP Taras Kozak and television channels 112 Ukraine, NewsOne, and ZIK, the press service of the President's Office has reported.

"To enact the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine of February 2, 2021 'On the application of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions)'," the report reads.

Taras Kozak, who is believed to be an ally of Viktor Medvedchuk, owns TV channels 112 Ukraine, ZIK, and NewsOne. The following restrictive measures have been imposed against him: blocking of assets (temporary restrictions on a person's right to use and dispose of property belonging to them); restrictions on trade operations; restriction, partial or complete cessation of the transit of resources, flights and transportation through the territory of Ukraine; preventing the withdrawal of capital from Ukraine; suspension of economic and financial obligations; revocation or suspension of licenses and other permits the receipt (availability) of which is a condition for carrying out a certain type of activity; complete or partial prohibition of transactions in securities issued by persons subject to sanctions in accordance with the law of Ukraine on sanctions; terminating the issuance of permits, licenses for import to Ukraine from a foreign state or export from Ukraine of currency values and restricting cash issuance on payment cards issued by residents of a foreign state; prohibition of technology transfer, intellectual property rights.

Sanctions have also been imposed for five years against TV channels 112 Ukraine, NewsOne, ZIK - Novyi Format, Ariadna TV, TV Vybir, Partner TV and Lider TV, 112-TV Television and Radio Company, Novyny 24 Hodyny, and Novi Komunikatsii.

Sanctions against the TV channels include blocking of assets; preventing the withdrawal of capital from Ukraine; suspension of economic and financial obligations; revocation or suspension of licenses and other permits the receipt (availability) of which is a condition for carrying out a certain type of activity; a ban on the use of radiofrequency resources of Ukraine; terminating the provision of services for retransmission/distribution of television programs, the provision of telecommunication services and the use of public telecommunication network, etc.

According to Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov, NSDC members at a meeting on February 2 considered imposing personal sanctions on legal entities and individuals residing in Ukraine.

"Of the 19 members of the National Security and Defense Council, 17 voted in favor [of the decision], one abstained, and one is on a business trip," he said.

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