Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/362 of 22 January 2024 implementing Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria

Official Journal

of the European Union

EN

L series

2024/362

22.1.2024

COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2024/362

of 22 January 2024

implementing Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation

in Syria

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 of 18 January 2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the

situation in Syria and repealing Regulation (EU) No 442/2011 (1), and in particular Article 32(1) thereof,

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

Whereas:

(1)

On 18 January 2012, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) No 36/2012.

(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 II to Regulation

(EU) No 36/2012.

(5)

Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 is amended as set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

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

(1) OJ L 16, 19.1.2012, p. 1.

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2024/362/oj

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OJ L, 22.1.2024

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 22 January 2024.

For the Council

The President

J. BORRELL FONTELLES

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Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 is amended as follows:

(1) the following entries are added to the list set out in section ‘A. Persons’ of Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 36/2012:

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;

Nationality: Syrian;

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

Reasons

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.

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

companies in Syria.

22.1.2024

OJ L, 22.1.2024

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2024/362/oj

ANNEX

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.

EN

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356.

Identifying information

Fahad Darwish

Date of birth:1955;

(a.k.a. Fahd/Fahed)

Place of birth: Damascus, Syria;

Nationality: Syrian/Iranian;

Gender: male

357.

Mohannad al-Dabbagh

Date of birth: 6.3.1967;

Nationality: Syrian/Iranian;

Gender: male

Reasons

Date of listing

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.

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Name

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

capacity, supporting and benefitting from the Syrian regime.

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

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

regime.

358.

Firas al-Akhras

Date of birth: 1.3.1978;

Place of birth: London, United Kingdom;

Nationality: Syrian;

Gender: male

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.

22.1.2024’

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

OJ L, 22.1.2024

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2024/362/oj

Name

‘91.

Identifying information

Al-Dj Group

Place of registration: Damascus, Syria;

(a.k.a ALDJ)

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.

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OJ L, 22.1.2024

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2024/362/oj

(2) the following entries are added to the list set out in section ‘B. Entities’ of Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 36/2012:

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 regimeaffiliated 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.

92.

Cham Wings

Place of registration: Damascus, Syria;

Principal place of business: Damascus, Syria

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

Issam Shammout.

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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.

93.

Freebird Travel Agency

Place of registration: Syria, Dubai;

Principal place of business: Damascus, Syria

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.

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

from and provides support to the regime.

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94.

95.

Identifying information

Reasons

Date of listing

Iloma Investment Private Place of registration: Damascus, Syria;

JSC

Date of registration: 2023;

(a.k.a. Eloma)

Principal place of business: Damascus, Syria

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

over almost half of the ownership of Damascus airport.

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Al-Aqila Company

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.

Place of registration: Damascus, Syria;

(a.k.a. al-Akila/Al-Aqeela Date of registration: 2007;

Insurance Company)

Principal place of business: Syria

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Name

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.

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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/reg_impl/2024/362/oj

لائحة تنفيذية من مجلس الاتحاد الأوروبي بتعديل قائمة عقوبات سورية، ومن الأسماء الواردة فيها: مهند الدباغ، فراس الأخرس، شركة أجنحة الشام، ووكالة فري بيرد للسفر.