EU General Court upholds Syria sanctions listings

The EU General Court has upheld the 2016-18 Syria sanctions listings of Ehab Makhlouf (cousin of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad), Razan Othman (wife of EU-sanctioned Rami Makhlouf), and Syriatel Mobile Telecom (Joint Stock Company) (Syrian mobile telephone services company). See judgments (French only): T-409/16, T-416/16 and T-411/16 (12 December 2018).

Ehab Makhlouf was listed for being a leading Syrian businessman (Vice President of and shareholder in Syriatel Mobile Telecom) and an influential member of the Makhlouf family and closely connected with the Assad family. Razan Othman is listed for being associated with, and benefiting from, the Syrian regime because of her close personal and financial relations with Rami Makhlouf, cousin of President Assad and principal financier of the regime. Syriatel Mobile Telecom is listed for being controlled by Rami Makhlouf, and for providing financial support to the Syrian regime by paying significant profits to the Government under its licencing agreement.