Ottawa, Ontario 20 February 2014
The Government of Canada is committed to supporting democracy in Ukraine. In consultation with like-minded countries, Canada is imposing targeted sanctions against those members of the Yanukovych regime and other individuals directly responsible for recent violent repression against Ukrainian citizens who are exercising their democratic right to peaceful protest.
The sanctions against Ukraine will be implemented using the Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA).
For months, the Government of Canada has delivered a strong message to the Ukrainian Government that its citizens must be allowed to exercise their democratic right to peaceful protest without being subjected to deadly force and brutality. Such violence is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
The Government of Canada has led the world in condemning the violence and oppression in Ukraine. On January 28, 2014, Canada introduced a travel ban on the regime’s senior leaders. On February 18, 2014, Canada announced medical aid to assist the protestors in their time of need. On February 20, 2014, the Government of Canada announced additional sanctions to put pressure on the regime to end the violence.
These sanctions aim to send a strong message to the Yanukovych regime that governments cannot act with impunity. The targeted sanctions are designed to limit the impact on the Ukrainian public, which is suffering as a result of the ongoing crisis. It is our hope that these serious steps will convince the Ukrainian Government to seek a peaceful resolution to the current impasse.
Canada today announced a travel ban and economic sanctions against senior Ukrainian Government officials and supporters who bear political responsibility for the violence.
The travel ban would prevent these individuals from entering Canada.
The aim of the economic sanctions would be to freeze any assets in Canada belonging to senior Ukrainian Government officials, and would prohibit any person in Canada and any Canadian outside Canada from:
a) dealing in any property, wherever situated, held by or on behalf of a designated person;
b) entering into or facilitating, directly or indirectly, any transaction related to a dealing referred to in (a);
c) providing any financial or other related service in respect of a dealing referred to in (a);
d) making goods, wherever situated, available to a designated person; and,
e) providing any financial or financial-related service to or for the benefit of a designated person.
