Russian oligarch Zorikov to remain on Czech national sanctions list
Russian oligarch Rostislav Zorikov, the former son-in-law of Russian arms dealer Boris Obnosov, will remain on the Czech national sanctions list. The Prague Municipal Court on Tuesday rejected his complaint, ruling that the government’s decision to blacklist him and his now ex-wife Olga had been fully justified.
The motion to place Zorikov, his now ex-wife, and his former father-in-law Russian arms manufacturer Boris Obnosov on the national sanctions list in August of last year came from the Czech Foreign Ministry. Its spokeswoman Mariana Wernerová responded briefly to the verdict on Czech Radio.
"The Foreign Ministry welcomes the outcome of the court's hearing, which upheld the government's arguments and thus confirmed the legality of the decision. The government considers Mr Zorikov's inclusion on the national sanctions list relevant both from a foreign policy and security perspective."
In practical terms, this means that Obnosov, his daughter Olga and her now ex-husband Zorikov are not allowed to enter the Czech Republic and all their assets in the country will remain frozen.
Boris Obnosov is the CEO of the Russian state holding company Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV), which produces armament systems and supplies for the Russian Armed Forces. Zorikov had permanent residence in the Czech Republic since June 2020 and together with his former father-in-law owned real estate in the country worth over CZK 100 million.
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When they were placed on the Czech national sanctions list in August of last year, the Czech authorities seized property and assets in their name worth an estimated 7 million euros ($7.5 million) including a house in central Prague valued at 6 million euros and the real estate company Riomax belonging to Zorikov.
In addition to these three Russian nationals, five other individuals and companies with links to the Russian war effort are currently on the Czech sanctions list. The name of Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill was the first to name placed on the list when it was established in early 2023.
Czechia approved its own version of the US Magnitsky Act so as to allow the country to impose its own sanctions against individuals and legal entities for serious violations of international law. Some were already on the EU sanctions list, but some were not. That was the case, for example, of Artyom Marchevsky and Viktor Medvedchuk whose names first appeared on the Czech national sanctions list after the country’s counterintelligence uncovered an influence network they were involved in, which included paying cash to European politicians. They were later placed on the EU’s sanctions list at Czechia’s initiative.
As the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out, the people on the EU sanctions list include only a few Russian entrepreneurs active in this country. Yet according to statistics, there are over 12,000 companies with Russian owners operating on Czech territory – many of whom are not physically present and merely conduct financial transactions from third countries. The Czech government has pledged to do its utmost to prevent individuals and companies from money laundering and otherwise violating international law on Czech territory.
