The European Union has lifted sanctions on former Formula 1 driver Nikita Mazepin, its General Court stating that they couldn't justify keeping Mazepin on the sanctions list imposed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The EU had previously sanctioned both Mazepin and his father, Dmitry. Sanctions included freezing their assets and barring them from entering EU member states.
This decision came shortly after Haas F1, Mazepin's former team, terminated his contract and that of his father's company, title sponsor Uralkali, due to the invasion.
Mazepin, who revived his racing career last year in the Asian Le Mans Series, has been trying to get removed from sanction lists worldwide but hadn't succeeded until now.
The EU has reversed its stance, arguing there wasn't enough evidence to link him to his father's activities beyond a family relationship.
Additionally, Uralkali's sponsorship, which previously funded Mazepin's racing, is no longer relevant since he's no longer with Haas.
The General Court's statement highlights that sanctioning Mazepin solely based on his family ties was unjustified.
“The General Court recalls that the 'association' criterion, applied in respect of Mr Nikita Mazepin, covers persons who are, generally speaking, linked by common interests,” read the General Court’s statement.
“In accordance with settled case-law, that criterion implies the existence of a link going beyond a family relationship, established in the light of a set of indicia sufficiently specific, precise and consistent.
“In the circumstances of the present case, the General Court holds that the Council did not discharge its burden of proof to establish such a link.
The association between Mr Nikita Mazepin and his father is in no way established from an economic or capital perspective or by the existence of common interests linking them at the time when the maintaining acts were adopted.”
Mazepin released a statement expressing his satisfaction with the ruling:
"I am hugely encouraged by today's ruling and grateful to the European Court for a fair trial of my case," he said. "This is certainly a crucial milestone."
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