EU imposes travel ban and asset freeze on chess chief Arkady Dvorkovich

Former Russian deputy prime minister Arkady Dvorkovich has been placed on the European Union’s sanctions list, which includes a travel ban throughout the bloc and a freeze on any assets he holds within EU jurisdictions. The measure was adopted by EU officials on Thursday as part of a broader package aimed at individuals deemed to be supporting Russia’s military activities and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Dvorkovich, who served in the Russian government from 2012 to 2020 and later chaired the World Bank’s International Development Association, is now prohibited from entering any EU member state and any funds or property linked to him in the region are to be immobilized.

The sanction follows a series of EU actions targeting senior Russian officials and business figures accused of facilitating Moscow’s war effort. Authorities cited Dvorkovich’s alleged involvement in policy decisions that contributed to the procurement of military equipment and the financing of activities that undermine Ukrainian sovereignty. The travel ban and asset freeze will remain in effect until the EU reassesses his status, and they align with similar restrictions imposed by the United States and other Western allies. The move underscores the bloc’s continued strategy of applying economic pressure on individuals linked to Russia’s aggression.