Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2024/380 of 22 January 2024 implementing Decision 2013/255/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria

Official Journal

of the European Union

EN

L series

2024/380

22.1.2024

COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION (CFSP) 2024/380

of 22 January 2024

implementing Decision 2013/255/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in

Syria

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 31(2) thereof,

Having regard to Council Decision 2013/255/CFSP of 31 May 2013 concerning restrictive measures in view of the

situation in Syria (1) and in particular Article 30(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

(1)

On 31 May 2013, the Council adopted Decision 2013/255/CFSP.

(2)

The Council remains deeply concerned about the situation in Syria. After more than a decade, the conflict in Syria is

far from over and remains a source of suffering and instability.

(3)

The Council notes that the Syrian regime continues to pursue its policy of repression and considers it necessary to

maintain and ensure the effectiveness of the restrictive measures in place, by further developing them while

maintaining their targeted and differentiated approach and bearing in mind the humanitarian conditions of the

Syrian population. The Council considers that certain categories of persons and entities are of particular relevance

for the effectiveness of these restrictive measures, given the specific context prevailing in Syria.

(4)

In view of the gravity of the situation, the Council considers that six individuals and five entities should be added to

the list of natural and legal persons, entities or bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in Annex I to

Decision 2013/255/CFSP.

(5)

Decision 2013/255/CFSP should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Annex I to Decision 2013/255/CFSP is amended as set out in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 22 January 2024.

For the Council

The President

J. BORRELL FONTELLES

(1) OJ L 147, 1.6.2013, p. 14.

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2024/380/oj

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ANNEX

Annex I to Decision 2013/255/CFSP is amended as follows:

(1) the following entries are added to the list set out in section ‘A. Persons’ of Annex I to Decision 2013/255/CFSP:

Name

‘353.

Mahmoud al-Dj

Identifying information

Date of birth: 26.7.1983;

Place of birth: Tell Rifaat, Aleppo,

Syria;

Nationality: Syrian/Libyan;

Gender: male

354.

Yasser Hussein Ibrahim

Date of birth: 9.4.1983;

Place of birth: Damascus, Syria;

Gender: male

355.

Bilal al-Naal

Date of birth:14.4.1975;

(a.k.a. al-Na’al)

Place of birth: Damascus, Syria;

Nationality: Syrian;

Gender: male

356.

Fahad Darwish

Date of birth:1955;

(a.k.a. Fahd/Fahed)

Place of birth: Damascus, Syria;

Nationality: Syrian/Iranian;

Gender: male

Date of listing

Mahmoud al-Dj is a leading businessperson operating in Syria, who owns several

companies active in different sectors such as logistics and tourism. He facilitates illicit

transactions between regime-affiliated persons and entities in Syria and Eastern Libya,

including in relation to narcotics, and the shipments of arms and mercenaries. His

position is enabled through his close ties with the Syrian regime, from which he and his

businesses are benefitting. His activities, on the other hand, support the Syrian regime

and enable it to access illicit revenues. He is therefore benefiting from, and providing

support to, the Syrian regime.

22.1.2024

Yasser Ibrahim is an economic advisor to Bashar al-Assad and acts in the economic

council run by Asma al-Assad. Together with Ali Najib Ibrahim he operates a number

of shell companies, and acts as a front for business activities of Bashar Al-Assad and

Asma Al-Assad. Therefore, Yasser Ibrahim is benefiting and supporting the Syrian

regime.

22.1.2024

Bilal al-Naal is a founder and partner of multiple trading and investment companies in

Syria.

22.1.2024

He is a member of the Syrian-Russian Business Council making him instrumental in

the economic ties between Russia and the Syrian regime. Al-Naal is also a member of

the Syrian parliament and former member of the Damascus governorate council.

Therefore, Bilal al-Naal is a leading business person in Syria, who is in this capacity

supporting and benefiting from the Syrian regime. He is also associated with Fadi Saqr,

Cham Holding and Bishr Al-Sabban.

Fahd Darwish is President of the Joint Syrian-Iranian Chamber of Commerce. In

addition, Darwish owns and runs multiple businesses in Syria active in different sectors

such as trading and pharmaceuticals.

Therefore, Darwish is a leading businessperson operating in Syria, who is, in this

capacity, supporting and benefitting from the Syrian regime.

22.1.2024

OJ L, 22.1.2024

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2024/380/oj

Nationality: Syrian;

Reasons

357.

Mohannad al-Dabbagh

Identifying information

Date of birth: 6.3.1967;

Nationality: Syrian/Iranian;

Gender: male

Reasons

Date of listing

Mohannad al-Dabbagh is a cousin of Asma al-Assad. He co-owns Takamol LLC, a

company responsible for managing the electronic “smart card program” used since

2014 to distribute subsidised food and other products in Syria under the umbrella of

the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Protection. In particular, Takamol LLC

earns a fee for every transaction operated through the smart card.

22.1.2024

OJ L, 22.1.2024

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2024/380/oj

Name

Mohannad al-Dabbagh is therefore benefitting from and supporting the Syrian regime.

358.

Firas al-Akhras

Date of birth: 1.3.1978;

Nationality: Syrian;

Firas al-Akhras is the brother of Asma al-Assad. He is co-owner of the Takamol LLC

company responsible for managing the electronic “smart card program” used since

2014 to distribute subsidised food and other products in Syria, under the umbrella of

the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Protection. In particular, Takamol LLC

earns a fee for every transaction operated through the smart card.

Gender: male

Firas al-Akhras is therefore benefitting from and supporting the Syrian regime.

Place of birth: London, United

Kingdom;

22.1.2024’

(2) the following entries are added to the list set out in section ‘B. Entities’ of Annex I to Decision 2013/255/CFSP:

Name

‘91.

Al-Dj Group

(a.k.a ALDJ)

Identifying information

Place of registration: Damascus,

Syria;

Principal place of business: Syria

Reasons

Date of listing

Al-Dj Group is a Syrian business entity, owned and managed by Mahmoud al-Dj. As a

holding company it owns and operates the Freebird Travel Agency, an agent for Cham

Wings Airlines, which is conducting frequent flights between Syria and Libya,

smuggling mercenaries, and narcotics. Al-Dj Group is further associated with Al-Tair

Company, which is also owned by Mahmoud al-Dj.

22.1.2024

Through this scheme of business relations, in which Al-Dj Group plays a central role,

cargo shipping and flights are used for illicit transactions between regime-affiliated

persons and entities in Syria and Eastern Libya, including narcotics.

Al-Dj Group’s activities benefit the Syrian regime and support it in accessing illicit

revenues.

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92.

93.

Cham Wings

Freebird Travel Agency

Identifying information

Reasons

Date of listing

Place of registration: Damascus,

Syria;

Cham Wings Airlines is a Syrian business entity which is owned by Muhammad Issam

Shammout.

22.1.2024

Principal place of business:

Damascus, Syria

Also, Cham Wings uses its flights to engage in the transfer of Syrian mercenaries, arms

trade, narcotics trafficking, and money laundering, which supports the activities of the

Syrian regime. As the only private airline in Syria, Cham Wings is therefore benefiting

from, and providing support to the Syrian regime.

Place of registration: Syria, Dubai;

The Freebird Travel Agency is a Syrian business entity owned and operated by Al-Dj

Group, which in turn is owned and managed by Mahmoud al-Dj.

Principal place of business:

Damascus, Syria

94.

Iloma Investment Private JSC has been established at the beginning of 2023 to take

over almost half of the ownership of Damascus airport.

(a.k.a. Eloma)

Iloma is a front for the Assad family and part of the regime’s efforts to personally gain

from manipulation of the economy. Therefore, Iloma is supporting and benefiting

from the Syrian regime.

Principal place of business:

Damascus, Syria

95.

Al-Aqila Company

Place of registration: Damascus,

Syria;

(a.k.a. al-Akila/Al-Aqeela

Insurance Company)

Date of registration: 2007;

Principal place of business: Syria

22.1.2024

Freebird serves as principal agent for Cham Wings Airlines. and, thereby benefits from

and provides support to the regime.

Iloma Investment Private Place of registration: Damascus,

JSC

Syria;

Date of registration: 2023;

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Name

Al-Aqila Company entered into a joint venture with the Iranian Alborz Insurance

Company, in a move arranged between the two regimes to strengthen Iran’s position in

the Syrian economy.

22.1.2024

22.1.2024’

In the current Syrian business environment, such a joint venture requires the support

of the Syrian Regime. Therefore, the Al-Aqila Company is supporting and benefitting

from the Syrian regime.

OJ L, 22.1.2024

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2024/380/oj

قرار تنفيذي من مجلس الاتحاد الأوروبي بتعديل قائمة عقوبات سورية، ومن الأسماء الواردة فيه: ياسر حسين إبراهيم، بلال النعال، فهد درويش، مهند الدباغ، فراس الأخرس، شركة أجنحة الشام، وشركة العقيلة.