Billionaire Aven files appeal over EU sanctions

RIGA - The European Court of Justice has accepted for hearing an appeal filed by Pyotr Aven and his business partner Mikhail Fridman over EU sanctions imposed on them in response to Russia's war in Ukraine, LETA was told at the court. 

The reasoning behind the case is restricted information until an announcement about court proceedings in the case is published in the EU Official Journal. 

Earlier, Aven, who has the dual citizenship of Russia and Latvia, and Fidman had spoken publicly of their plans to dispute the Western sanctions. The two businessmen claim they have been sanctioned wrongfully. 

Previously, Latvian Justice Minister Janis Bordans (Conservatives) said that with his activities Aven has provided propaganda support to aggressor state Russia and that he should be stripped of the Latvian citizenship for that. 

As reported, under amendments adopted by the Saeima in April Latvian persons can be stripped of Latvian citizenship for providing significant financial, material, propaganda, technological or other support to persons, states or other entities that have committed acts, including crimes against peace, genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes that undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of democratic states or the constitutional order.

Participation in the aforementioned activities can also result in a loss of Latvian citizenship.

The amendments stipulate though that a person may not become stateless if his or her citizenship is revoked. This means that only dual citizens may be stripped of Latvian citizenship, while residents who only have Latvian citizenship may not be stripped of their citizenship for supporting war crimes.