Beloglazov v Council: Judicial Review of Individual EU Sanctions in the Context of the EU's Recent Russia Sanctions

              In response to Russia’s’ invasion of Ukraine, the European Union (EU) has progressively expanded its range of sanctions.  While they first primarily targeted politically exposed individuals, state-owned enterprises, and key sectors of the Russian economy, more recent packages have increasingly focused on preventing sanctions circumvention through intermediaries, financial facilitators, and complex corporate structures.  On July 15, 2026, the General Courts delivered a judgment in Beloglazov v Council, which is among the first to examine the legality of this evolving approach.  It provides important guidance on the interpretation of the listing criterion concerning the facilitation of sanctions circumvention and is therefore likely to become a leading authority for future challenges to anti-circumvention listings.