The Court rejected Andrei Chevtsov’s annulment bid, finding the Council correctly assessed his senior state management role as sufficient grounds for listing under the Belarus restrictive measures regime
The EU General Court dismissed the annulment application brought by Andrei Chevtsov against his designation under the Belarus sanctions list. The judgment in Case T-528/24 was delivered today, April 22nd 2026. Chevtsov challenged his listing under Decision 2012/642/CFSP and Regulation 765/2006. His central argument was that the Council committed a manifest error of assessment in evaluating his role.
Chevtsov held a senior management position within the Belarusian state apparatus, with the role being cited as the basis for designating him under the criteria for individuals responsible for serious human rights violations, the repression of civil society, or association with persons in those roles. Chevtsov disputed that the evidence was sufficient to support the listing and argued his specific functions did not bring him within those designation criteria.
The Court disagreed. It found the Council relied on adequate evidence to support its assessment. The standard of review in CFSP sanctions cases permits courts to check factual accuracy and manifest error, but they do not allow courts to substitute their own political judgment for the Council’s. The Court also rejected procedural arguments about the adequacy of reasons given for the listing. The Council provided a specific and concrete individual factual basis for the designation. That was sufficient.
