Latvia continues to support Ukraine strongly, condemns Russia's aggression and full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and in the current geopolitical climate will appeal in the Aven and Fridman cases, says a statement from the Justice Ministry.
By filing an appeal, Latvia will ask the CJEU to overturn the judgments and not to lift the sanctions originally imposed against the two businessmen.
The Latvian Justice Ministry argues that when the sanctions were adopted, both Aven and Fridman had preliminary evidence of active material or financial support to Russian decision-makers responsible for the annexation of Crimea or the destabilization of Ukraine.
The decision to appeal CJEU judgments can be taken by the Council of the European Union (EU) and by a Member State.
Latvia was among the Member States that called for an appeal to the Council of the EU, but according to the recommendation of the Legal Service of the Council of the EU and the views of the majority of EU Member States, the Council of the EU will not do so.
The deadline for appeals in the Aven and Fridman case is June 20.
