The European Union's court has made a significant decision, granting Alexander Pumpyansky, the son of Russian businessman Dmitry Pumpyansky, a successful appeal against the sanctions imposed by the EU in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. According to the court, Pumpyansky was included in the sanctions list because the EU council recognized that he had ceased to be the president and board member of Sinara or TMK as of March 9, 2022, which was six months prior to the initial round of sanctions and two weeks after the invasion.

This ruling from the European Union General Court, which serves as the first instance of the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU), headquartered in Luxembourg, mandates the removal of Pumpyansky's name from the list of sanctions. However, it is important to note that Pumpyansky's claim for damages was rejected. The EU now has a two-month window to challenge the decision before the CJEU, which is the highest court in the EU, according to a court official. The businesses involved in this case are OAO TMK, a Russian steel pipe supplier to Gazprom, and Sinara, a Russian investment bank.

The EU argues that both companies benefit from their association with Russian state enterprises and the Russian government. It is worth mentioning that Gennady Timchenko, a Russian oligarch and longtime ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, previously filed an appeal against the sanctions but had it rejected by the EU court in September. Additionally, the mother of the late Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin also achieved a unique victory over the sanctions in March, although at the time, the ruling had no immediate practical impact due to her remaining under separate sanctions.

Since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the European Union has implemented sanctions on approximately 1,700 individuals and organizations. According to a court official, around 74 Russians have appealed against these EU sanctions to the Luxembourg-based court. Consequently, this recent decision serves as a significant development in the ongoing legal battle surrounding the repercussions of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.