The Union confirms the death of Iosif Kobzon and unfreezes his assets

(B2) The Council of the EU updated on Monday (21 January) its 'blacklist' of people threatening the integrity or destabilizing Ukraine. It removed from Annex 1 of Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 Iosif (Joseph) Davydovich Kobzon, who died on August 30 at the age of 80 from cancer. His assets are therefore unfrozen. The blacklist now includes 163 people and 44 entities, according to our information.

Member of the Duma and of 'United Russia', originally from Donbass, Iosif Kozbon had been appointed honorary consul of the 'people's republic of Donetsk'. It is in this capacity that he was registered since February 16, 2015 on the EU blacklist. But he is best known in Russia for being a singer of operettas, popular and patriotic tunes (read in The Point his portrait). He performed on several occasions, accompanied by military orchestras, in front of the highest personalities of the regime (excerpt below).

NB: In some cases, keeping deceased persons on the blacklist for a certain period of time may have an interest, in particular to prevent the heirs from benefiting from the assets of their deceased relative.

(NGV)

Download the settlement and decision