On September 13, the EU published in its official journal a decision to remove two Russian nationals from the sanctions list – Violetta Prigozhina and Nikita Mazepin.
Violetta Prigoina is the mother of Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner private military company, who died in a plane crash on August 23rd, 2021.
Yevgeny Prigozhin and his private army have been involved in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, the Wagner company has supported some governments in Africa. In 2022, Yevgeny Prigozhin, his wife, his mother, and his son were designated by the EU.
Currently, Violetta Prigozhina is known as an artist. In 2007, she became the owner of the art gallery “The Colors of Life” in Saint Petersburg.
Nikita Mazepin is a former Formula 1 driver. In 2021, he drove for the Haas F1 team, while his father, Dmitry Mazepin, was a major sponsor of his son’s racing activities through various companies with which they were linked. Dmitry Mazepin owned and was CEO of Uralchem, one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of nitrogen, potash, and complex fertilizers. Mazepin and his son were added to the EU’s sanctions list in 2022, after which the UK followed suit and added them to its official sanctions list.
