Wagner supplies and rents out security guards and armed militias in countries such as Libya, Syria, and the Central African Republic. The sanctions also target three other Russian companies and organizations. European citizens and companies are also prohibited from doing business with them.
The European Union is imposing sanctions on the Russian mercenary organization Wagner. Many EU countries believe the company plays a malevolent role in Ukraine and other countries. The Netherlands, France, and the Czech Republic had pushed for punitive measures against Wagner, now that it also threatens to gain a foothold in Mali.
Wagner pays little attention to human rights or the rule of law and is said to sometimes serve as the Kremlin's shadow army. Russia insists that Wagner is a private company, but in reality, it supposedly takes orders from Moscow.
The Wagner group (PMC Wagner) is officially a company owned by the Russian Yevgeny Prigozhin, a businessman with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He is said to have been Putin's private chef, among other roles. Wagner was founded by Dmitry Utkin, who himself belonged for many years to the Russian elite units of the Russian secret service.
Wagner maintains very close ties with the Russian military. For example, recruits of the mercenary army are allowed to use military grounds near Molkin, in the Krasnodar region. Wagner also actively recruits from the Russian military. In 2016, it was estimated that Wagner had around a thousand people.
The EU foreign ministers also advocate for an arms embargo against Southeast Asian Myanmar due to increasing violence in the country. The declaration from Brussels follows reports of a new massacre in Myanmar. The military itself claims to have eliminated "armed terrorists."
The Myanmar military staged a coup this year and arrested government leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The European Union had already imposed sanctions afterward, but it has now become clear that additional measures are needed.