On October, 18 the MPs from UKROP registered in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine a draft resolution № 5279 “On imposing sectoral sanctions against the Russian Federation in banking sector”. The aim of the document is to submit proposals to the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine on introduction of sectoral sanctions against the banks, with “substantial part belonging to the citizens of the Russian Federation”. The draft resolution was signed by the MPs Vitaliy Kupriy, Taras Batenko, Iryna Konstankevych, Oleksandr Dubinin, Valentyn Didych, Oleksandr and Victor Shevchenko, Andriy Denysenko.
The authors of the document point out that personal sanctions imposed by the NSDC against 388 individuals and 105 companies in 2015 were ineffective. Presidential decree on sanctions from October, 17 is also applied to personal restrictions. “The UKROP party considers it has no chance to success as personal sanctions do not affect the aggressor. So for the first time in history, we propose to impose sectoral sanctions – without determined group of persons in certain business sectors, working in Ukraine. It is proposed to start with the banking sector,” said Vitaliy Kupriy.
The MP has noted that over the last two years, the role of the Russian equities in banking sector has increased, and customers of the Ukrainian banks are put in a position of dependence on the aggressor that threatens national security. In addition, money of the Ukrainian taxpayers got through bank structures is actually used to support aggression in eastern Ukraine.
The draft resolution provides freezing of assets, preventing taking capital outside Ukraine, withholding economic and financial liabilities, cancellation or suspension of licenses and other permits, prohibition of participation in privatization of state property by the residents of foreign states and persons who directly or indirectly are controlled by the residents of a foreign country or act in their interests, prohibiting issuing permits, licenses of the National bank of Ukraine for investments in foreign countries, currency deposits on accounts on the territory of a foreign country and so on.
The MPs from UKROP also propose to give the right to the Parliament to impose sanctions independently if necessary and if other competent authorities do not do it. “This will encourage the President of Ukraine and the National Security and Defense Council to act and to use this mechanism in order to stop the aggressor,” said Vitaliy Kupriy.
Draft law of Ukraine № 5278 “On Amendments to Article 5 of the Law of Ukraine “On sanctions” concerning the right of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to impose sanctions” that will allow Parliament to introduce restrictions by its decision when it has been done neither by the NSDC nor by the President within 30 days, is also registered in Parliament.
