EU lifts sanctions against Gutseryev and Shevtsov following court rulings

Official removal from the sanctions register

On 13 October 2026, the European Union officially lifted personal restrictions on two businessmen — Mikhail Gutseryev and Viktor Shevtsov. These restrictions had previously been imposed due to their alleged contacts with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. The decision to cancel the sanctions was made after a review of the circumstances that formed the basis for their inclusion in the blacklist.

Court proceedings

Both entrepreneurs had repeatedly challenged the EU's actions in European courts. The Belarusian publication "Zerkalo" reported on their removal from the sanctions list, citing an official EU decision.

Regarding Mikhail Gutseryev, whom the public called a close friend of Lukashenko, the restrictions had been in effect since December 2021. The main argument for their introduction was his probable close ties with the Belarusian ruler. Despite the EU Court rejecting his lawsuits in September 2023 and May 2025, in May 2026 the judicial instance upheld Gutseryev's claims and annulled the corresponding EU Council decision.

Viktor Shevtsov had been under sanctions since August 2024. He was accused of benefiting from a monopoly position in the market for protective holograms. After the EU Council adopted a new decision in June 2026, Shevtsov filed another lawsuit, which ultimately led to the lifting of the restrictions.

Consequences of the decision

The removal of both businessmen from the sanctions list means the complete cessation of EU personal restrictions that had been imposed against them under the relevant sanctions regime.