The European General Court (EGC) in Luxembourg has started hearing the case of Russia's Rosneft oil company against the EU Council, the TASS news agency reported Tuesday.
The case was opened on Feb. 18, 2015, the court's spokesperson said, TASS reported.
The EU Council imposed sanctions against Russia on July 31, 2014. Rosneft's lawsuit demands that sanctions imposed on the oil company in September 2014 be cancelled.
The oil company also filed a lawsuit to the London High Court, which requested EGC's position on the case, TASS said.
This claim by Rosneft is being watched with particular interest as it sets the precedent for other Russian defense and oil industry companies — such as Sberbank, Gazprom Neft and Vneshtorgbank (VTB) — who have also filed lawsuits against the Council of Europe, TASS reported.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
