EU removes Gutseriev from Belarus list while separate Russia sanctions remain

The EU Council published a decision on October 14 removing Mikhail Gutseriev from its Belarus-related sanctions list. The change does not lift restrictions imposed on him under a separate Russia-related regime.

The amendments delete entry No. 125 for Gutseriev and No. 258 for businessman Viktor Shevtsov. They are set out in a Council decision and implementing regulation dated October 13 and published the following day.

In May, an EU court upheld Gutseriev’s challenge to the renewal of the Belarus-related restrictions. It found the Council’s assessment that he continued to support and benefit from connections with the Belarusian authorities insufficiently substantiated and ordered the Council to pay the legal costs.

In July 2026, however, the EU listed Gutseriev separately as part of its 21st Russia sanctions package. Removal from the Belarus list does not reverse that independent listing.

The published measure therefore changes his position under one specific sanctions regime. It does not amount to the complete removal of European sanctions against him.