Wagner Group: EU sanctions Russian mercenaries

The EU has imposed sanctions on the Russian mercenary troop Wagner. The company has been deployed in conflict areas such as Ukraine and Syria. The EU accuses him of human rights violations.

The foreign ministers of the European Union have put those responsible for the Russian mercenary troop Wagner on a sanctions list. The decision has already been published in the EU Official Journal and is therefore valid.

Specifically, the Wagner Group itself, eight members and three companies affiliated with it are named. For example, the Russian Dmitri Utkin, who is named as the founder of the group and is said to be responsible for sending mercenaries to Ukraine, is affected. The three listed companies are said to be active in Syria in the Syrian oil and gas sector.

Companies and citizens from the EU are no longer allowed to do business with those affected. In addition, their assets were frozen in the EU and they were given entry bans.

Alleged torture and targeted homicide

The EU accuses the sanctioned of “serious human rights violations” such as torture and targeted killings in conflict areas. “Wagner is a military private company that is used to undermine security in Europe and third countries in its neighborhood, especially in Africa,” an EU diplomat told the AFP news agency.

The Wagner Group is a Russian company that is said to have used mercenaries in Ukraine, Syria, Libya and the Central African Republic, among others, as it was called in Brussels. Serious human rights violations are also said to have occurred. Moscow denies any official connection with the units, also known as “Russia’s shadow army”.

Warnings about deployment in Mali

France sees evidence of a future deployment of Russian mercenaries in Mali. There are talks between the military rulers in Mali and the Wagner troops about sending paramilitaries to train the Malian armed forces. France had therefore threatened to withdraw its troops.

The Bundeswehr is also involved in two international missions by the EU and the UN in Mali with a total of up to 1,700 soldiers. The missions are currently considered to be the most dangerous of the Bundeswehr.