| Abstract [eng] |
This Master's thesis analyses the application of restrictive measures by the United Nations, the European Union and Lithuania. It examines the interaction between the international, EU and Lithuanian national legal frameworks for sanctions. The analysis of the different types of sanctions reveals the flexibility they offer in the respective situations where sanctions are to be applied. The work examines the problem of the veto power in the adoption of sanctions, which means that the vote depends, in principle, solely on the vote of the permanent Member States. In order to clarify the issue of Lithuania's restrictive measures mechanism, the question of the discretion to impose autonomous restrictive measures is examined, and conclusions are drawn as to the limitations of this measure on the basis of the cancellation of the contract between Lietuvos Geležinkeliai and Belaruskali and the decision not to buy energy from the Astravas nuclear power plant. In order to accurately assess the impact of the sanctions on Russia, and based on changes in the value of the Russian rouble, the revenues of the energy sector, and the volatility of GDP, an assessment has been carried out in both the short and the long term. In the short term, the impact of sanctions has been lower than expected and in some places Russia has even managed to increase its revenues from the energy sector. However, the negative impact of sanctions is most relevant in the long term and, based on current indicators and forecasts, Russia will be negatively affected in the long term. In order to improve sanctions regimes, the analysis of sanctions evasion techniques shows that the most common ways of evading sanctions are through the use of third country partners, the creation of shell companies, falsification of documents and the use of cryptocurrencies for payments. Based on the secondary sanctions imposed by the US, it would be advisable for the EU to do the same. In order to clarify whether the international community is upholding human rights standards, resonant examples such as the North Korean sanctions regime and the Kadi case are analysed, which show that the international community recognises human rights as a very important value and, even in the face of violations by Member States, is active in defending them. In order to improve existing sanctions mechanisms, proposals are made for better coordination at all levels, harmonisation of criminalisation and better monitoring of enforcement. |
