Gutseriev v Council
Case T-286/25
14 May 2026
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In a significant judgment handed down on 13 May 2026, the General Court has annulled the decision of the Council of the European Union to designate Mr Mikail Gutseriev under the EU Belarus sanctions regime.
The General Court concluded that “by finding that, at the time of the adoption of the contested acts, the applicant could still be regarded as a person who benefited from and supported the regime of President Lukashenko, the Council made an error of assessment” (§113).
Brian Kennelly KC and Jason Pobjoy KC acted for Mr Gutseriev in the General Court, instructed by Chris Bryant and Sonja Hainsworth at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP.
Brian and Jason have extensive expertise in challenging and advising on EU and international asset-freezing sanctions, and are recognised as leading sanctions lawyers in the EU. They have represented dozens of individuals and entities in challenges to asset-freezing regimes before the General Court of the EU and the Court of Justice. Many of their recent cases have resulted in the de-listing of the sanctioned individuals. They also have considerable experience in advising on sanctions compliance issues.
A copy of the judgment can be found here.
