LegalizeCouncil Regulation (EU) 2024/1485 of 27 May 2024 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Russia
Β. Legal persons, entities and bodies
| Name | Identifying information | Statement of Reasons | Date of listing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | FEDERAL PENITENTIARY SERVICE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION (FSIN) ФЕДЕРАЛЬНАЯ СЛУЖБА ИСПОЛНЕНИЯ НАКАЗАНИЙ (ФСИН) (RU) | Address: Zhitnaya Street 14 Yakimanka District, Central Administrative Okrug, Moscow Website: http://www.fsin.su/eng | The Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation (FSIN) is a federal agency under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice of Russia. FSIN is the federal authority for the detention of suspected and convicted persons, the security and maintenance of prisons in Russia, the transport of prisoners, and rehabilitation programmes. As such, FSIN is the central authority managing the Russian prison system, known for its widespread and systematic abuses against, and ill-treatment of, political prisoners in Russia. As a federal agency, FSIN is responsible for the penal colonies where Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny was held on politically motivated charges and ultimately died on 16 February 2024. During his imprisonment, Alexei Navalny suffered abuses, including through solitary confinement in a punishment cell and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, leading to the severe deterioration of his health. Other political prisoners held in the Russian prison system under similarly harsh conditions of detention, are subjected to abuse and ill-treatment, which is meant to physically and psychologically break them. FSIN is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Russia, including torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. | 27.5.2024 |
| 2. | IPJSC NTK a.k.a. International Public Joint-Stock Company NTK a.k.a. NTH International Joint Stock Company a.k.a. MKAO NTKh a.k.a. MKAO NTH (Russian: МКАО НТХ) | Address: 236004, Kaliningrad region, Kaliningrad, Okyabrskaya street 71-73, room 25 Email: info@ntechlab.ru Russian website: www.ntechlab.ru International website: www.ntechlab.com INN: 3900040153 KPP: 390001001 OGRN: 1253900004412 OKPO: 87427827 | IPJSC NTK is the holding company of NtechLab. NtechLab is a Russian facial recognition technology company subject to restrictive measures imposed by the Union. IPJSC NTK has cooperated with the Department of Information Technologies of the City of Moscow in the development of the facial recognition system in Moscow. The Main Directorate of Internal Affairs of the City of Moscow employed the facial recognition system in Moscow as a tool of repression to monitor and detain independent journalists, opposition activists and participants who were protesting peacefully in support of Alexei Navalny and in opposition to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. IPJSC NTK was established to take over the operations of NtechLab when the company relocated to Russia. Therefore, IPJSC NTK is responsible for providing technical or material support for serious violations of human rights in Russia, including arbitrary arrests or detentions, and violations or abuses of freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. | 15.6.2026 |
| 3. | VK (previously known as Mail.ru group, VK Company Limited) (Russian: VK) | Address: Moscow, 125167, Leningradsky prospekt 39, bld. 79 Vk.com Vk.company INN (Russian tax ID): 3900015862 TIN (TIN): 3900015862 OGRN (Trade register number): 1233900010585 | VK is one of the main technological companies in Russia. It provides email and chat services and runs applications and the social media website VKontakte. VK is the parent company of Communication Platform LLC, the developer and manager of state-supported mobile phone application Max. The development of the Max application was supervised by the Federal Security Service (FSB), which established requirements that the developers of the Max application had to meet. The Max application must be pre-installed on all mobile phones and tablets sold in Russia and is integrated with the Gosuslugi service. According to numerous experts, the Max application has extensive surveillance features and can monitor communications, including the use of virtual private networks (VPNs), gather data on other applications installed on phones, monitor address books, identify the location of users and install autonomous updates. The introduction and promotion of the Max application by the Russian state have been accompanied by a crackdown on and blocking of other independent applications, such as WhatsApp and Telegram, as well as by a campaign to limit the use of VPNs, which allowed users to access content blocked in Russia. Information gathered by Russian authorities through the Max application served as a basis to fine a Russian citizen for content posted on the application. The Max application has benefitted from government-imposed blocks on access to Western and independent competitors, such as Instagram, Facebook, Telegram and WhatsApp, enabling it to increase its revenue and market share. VK has cooperated with Russian authorities in their repressive actions, including by providing them with data concerning users of its services who posted content criticising Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, or other content banned by the authorities. VK has also participated in the government-ordered ban on the use of VPNs, through which Russian internet users could previously access independent content on the internet. Therefore, VK provides technical support for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition, including by assisting and facilitating such acts. | 13.7.2026 |
| 4. | Communication Platform LLC (Russian: Акционерное Общество Инвестиционная Компания Коммуникационная Платформа) | Address: PR-KT LENINGRADSKII D. 39, STR. 79, 125167 MOSCOW, Russian Federation www.complatform.ru mail@complatform.ru INN (Russian tax ID): 9714058267 TIN (TIN): 9714058267 | Communication Platform LLC is a subsidiary company of VK (previously known as VKontakte) and is the developer and manager of state-supported mobile phone application Max. The development of the Max application was supervised by the Federal Security Service (FSB), which established the requirements that the developers of the Max application had to meet. The Max application must be pre-installed on all mobile phones and tablets sold in Russia and is integrated with the Gosuslugi service. According to numerous experts, the Max application has extensive surveillance features and can monitor communications, including the use of virtual private networks (VPNs), gather data on other applications installed on phones, monitor the address books, identify the location of the users and install autonomous updates. The introduction and promotion of the Max application by the Russian state have been accompanied by a crackdown on and blocking of other independent applications, such as WhatsApp and Telegram, as well as by a campaign to limit the use of VPNs, which allowed users to access content blocked in Russia. Information gathered by Russian authorities through the Max application served as a basis to fine a Russian citizen for content posted on the application. Therefore, Communication Platform LLC provides technical support for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition, including by assisting and facilitating such acts. | 13.7.2026 |
| 5. | VAS Experts (Russian: Общество с ограниченной ответственностью Вас Экспертс) | Address: Saint Petersburg, Avenue Liteyny 26, building a, office 5-13 OGRN: 1137847014337 INN (Russian tax ID) 7841476577 | VAS Experts manufactures, develops, and sells hardware and software related to the so-called System of Operative Investigative Measures (SORM). SORM is a surveillance system used since the mid-1990s to control internet and mobile communications in Russia, namely the monitoring of phone calls, emails, internet use, text messages and social networks. Mobile phone and internet providers are legally required to install SORM. It is installed in all Russian data centres and at all internet exchange points and within major search engines. User traffic is copied to a separate server or to a data centre available to the Federal Security Service (FSB). SORM gathers information about users’ physical location, activity patterns, time of device use, users’ behaviour and the use of different SIM cards in one or more devices. It can be used retroactively and without the provider’s knowledge. SORM has been used to target journalists, opposition figures, minority groups and ordinary citizens. It has also been used to prosecute supporters of the Russian opposition, leaders such as Alexei Navalny, organisers of protests, individuals who ran internet accounts critical of the Russian authorities or produced reports on the political situations and activists who opposed the war of aggression against Ukraine. SORM has also been used to pre-emptively detain individuals suspected of anti-government activities. SORM has had a profound impact on the ability of Russian citizens to access unbiased information about the war of aggression against Ukraine. It was also used to block traffic from, and access to, thousands of Western websites and services. VAS Experts is involved in the development, supply and maintenance of SORM, including hardware and software integrated into telecoms networks, therefore allowing intelligence agencies to directly access all traffic. VAS Experts is a key supplier of SORM that complies with interception requirements mandated by the FSB and supports the operation of Russia’s communications surveillance infrastructure. VAS Experts operates within a framework established and supervised by the Russian authorities. These authorities approve technical requirements for SORM deployment, require operators to coordinate implementation plans, oversee compliance and use the equipment for direct interception activities. Consequently, VAS Experts develops and supplies equipment specifically designed to satisfy surveillance requirements established by the FSB. Therefore, VAS Experts provides material support for serious violations and abuses of human rights and for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition. | 13.7.2026 |
| 6. | Norsi-Trans a.k.a. Closed Joint-Stock Company ‘Norsi-Trans’ (Russian: Закрытое Акционерное Общество ‘Норси-Транс’) | Address: 127015 Moscow, Bolshaya Novodmitrovskaya Street 12, building 15, floor 2, room 36) Date of registration: 16.1.2003 OGRN: 1037700030477 INN (Russian tax ID): 7705051215 | Closed Joint-Stock Company ‘Norsi-Trans’ manufactures, develops, and sells hardware and software related to the so-called System of Operative Investigative Measures (SORM). SORM is a surveillance system used since the mid-1990s to control internet and mobile communications in Russia, namely the monitoring of phone calls, emails, internet use, text messages and social networks. Mobile phone and internet providers are legally required to install SORM. It is installed in all Russian data centres and at all internet exchange points and within major search engines. User traffic is copied to a separate server or to a data centre available to the Federal Security Service (FSB). SORM gathers information about users’ physical location, activity patterns, time of device use, users’ behaviour and the use of different SIM cards in one or more devices. It can be used retroactively and without the provider’s knowledge. SORM has been used to target journalists, opposition figures, minority groups and ordinary citizens. It has also been used to prosecute supporters of the Russian opposition, leaders such as Alexei Navalny, organisers of protests, individuals who ran internet accounts critical of the Russian authorities or produced reports on the political situations and activists who opposed the war of aggression against Ukraine. It was also used to pre-emptively detain individuals suspected of anti-government activities. SORM has had a profound impact on Russians’ ability to access unbiased information about the war of aggression against Ukraine. It was also used to block traffic from, and access to, thousands of Western websites and services. Norsi-Trans is involved in the development, supply and maintenance of SORM, including hardware and software that is integrated into telecoms networks, therefore allowing intelligence agencies to directly access all traffic. SORM includes monitoring equipment installed in facilities of telecommunications providers. Such monitoring equipment provides information to the Russian government’s intelligence agency, including on phone calls, text messages, emails and internet traffic. SORM also facilitates access to communications data associated with messaging application, metadata, mobile numbers, phone identifiers, geolocation, names, email addresses and IP addresses. Norsi-Trans is a key supplier of SORM that complies with interception requirements mandated by the FSB and supports the operation of Russia’s communications surveillance infrastructure. Norsi-Trans operates within a framework established and supervised by the Russian authorities. These authorities approve technical requirements for SORM deployment, require operators to coordinate implementation plans, oversee compliance and use the equipment for direct interception activities. Consequently, Norsi-Trans develops and supplies equipment specifically designed to satisfy surveillance requirements established by the FSB. Therefore, Norsi-Trans provides material support for serious violations and abuses of human rights and for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition. | 13.7.2026 |
| 7. | LLC Citadel (Russian: Общество с ограниченной ответственностью ‘Цитадель’) | Address: 127015 Moscow, Intra-city municipal territory municipal district Butyrsky, Novodmitrovskaya Street 2B OGRN: 1157746895690 INN(Russian tax ID): 9701012339 Address: 603098, Nizhny Novgorod, pr. Gagarina, 50 (Korpus 9), BTS ‘Chiornaya Zhemchuzhina’ OGRN: 1055238018098 INN (Russian tax ID): 5260146265 | LLC Citadel operates in Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod and develops, implements and provides support for software and hardware of the so-called System of Operative Investigative Measures (SORM). LLC Citadel is the largest manufacturer and reportedly the most important supplier of SORM hardware and software in Russia. SORM is a surveillance system used since the mid-1990s to control internet and mobile communications in Russia, namely the monitoring of phone calls, emails, internet use, text messages and social networks. Mobile phone and internet providers are legally required to install SORM. It is installed in all Russian data centres and at all internet exchange points and within major search engines. The user traffic is copied to a separate server or to a data centre available to the Federal Security Service (FSB). SORM gathers information about users’ physical location, activity patterns, time of device use, users’ behaviour and the use of different SIM cards in one or more devices. It can be used retroactively and without the provider’s knowledge. SORM has been used to target journalists, opposition figures, minority groups and ordinary citizens. It has also been used to prosecute supporters of the Russian opposition, leaders such as Alexei Navalny, organisers of protests, individuals who ran internet accounts critical of the Russian authorities or produced reports on the political situations and activists who opposed the war of aggression against Ukraine. SORM has also been used to pre-emptively detain individuals suspected of anti-government activities. It has had a profound impact on Russians’ ability to access unbiased information about the war of aggression against Ukraine and was used to block traffic from, and access to, thousands of Western websites and services. LLC Citadel is involved in the development, supply and maintenance of SORM, including hardware and software integrated into telecoms networks, therefore allowing intelligence agencies to directly access all traffic. SORM includes monitoring equipment installed in facilities of telecommunications providers. Such monitoring equipment provides information to the Russian government’s intelligence agency, including on phone calls, text messages, emails and internet traffic. SORM also facilitates access to communications data associated with messaging application, metadata, mobile numbers, phone identifiers, geolocation, names, email addresses and IP addresses. LLC Citadel is a key supplier of SORM that complies with interception requirements mandated by the FSB and supports the operation of Russia’s communications surveillance infrastructure. LLC Citadel operates within a framework established and supervised by the Russian authorities. The authorities approve technical requirements for SORM deployment, require operators to coordinate implementation plans, oversee compliance and use the equipment for direct interception activities. Consequently, LLC Citadel develops and supplies equipment specifically designed to satisfy surveillance requirements. Therefore, LLC Citadel provides material support for serious violations and abuses of human rights and for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition. | 13.7.2026 |
[^E0001]: () Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 October 2013 laying down the Union Customs Code (OJ L 269, 10.10.2013, p. 1).
[^E0002]: () Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 (OJ L 176, 27.6.2013, p. 1).
[^E0003]: () Directive (EU) 2015/849 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing, amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Directive 2005/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Directive 2006/70/EC (OJ L 141, 5.6.2015, p. 73).
[^E0004]: () Directive 2014/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on markets in financial instruments and amending Directive 2002/92/EC and Directive 2011/61/EU (OJ L 173, 12.6.2014, p. 349).
[^E0005]: () Regulation (EU) 2021/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 setting up a Union regime for the control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use items (recast) (OJ L 206, 11.6.2021, p. 1).
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