EU sanctions Nikita Mazepin, including travel ban for ex-Haas F1 driver

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Nikita Mazepin and his father have been included on the latest list of EU sanctions, which will prevent the former Haas F1 driver from travelling to the EU

Nikita and Dmitry Mazepin meet Vladimir Putin

Nikita and Dmitry Mazepin meet Vladimir Putin in 2018

Mikhail Klimentyev\TASS via Getty Images

The European Union has imposed sanctions on Nikita Mazepin, which prevent him travelling to any country within the bloc.

The former Haas F1 driver, who was sacked earlier this week, will also have any European assets frozen as a result of his father Dmitry’s Kremlin links.

Dmitry Mazepin runs the parent company of the Uralkali fertiliser firm, which bankrolled his son by sponsoring Haas. He has also been sanctioned after meeting with Vladimir Putin on the day Russia invaded Ukraine.

This shows that he is “a member of the closest circle of Vladimir Putin and that he is supporting or implementing actions that threaten Ukraine,” according to the EU ruling.

The decision may affect Mazepin’s claim on the 2022 sponsorship payments that Uralkali has made to Haas, particularly if Britain and America follow suit with the sanctions.

Earlier today, Uralkali — owned by Uralchem — announced that it intended to reclaim the funds, saying that most of this year’s fees had already been paid to the US-owned and British-based team.

The EU sanctions prevent funds being made available directly or indirectly to sanctioned individuals.

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Published in the Official Journal of the European Union, the new legislation cites the two Mazepins among 146 individuals and associates who backed Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

“Nikita Mazepin is the son of Dmitry Mazepin, General Director of Uralchem.” The legislation states. “As Uralchem sponsors Haas F1 Team, Dmitry Mazepin is the major sponsor of his son’s activities at Haas F1 Team.

“He is a natural person associated with a leading businessperson (his father) involved in economic sectors providing a substantial source of revenue to the Government of the Russian Federation, which is responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of Ukraine.”

Earlier today, Mazepin said that his sacking from Haas had not been linked to any sanction or governing body directive and complained that he had been given no warning that his contract would be terminated.

He announced plans to set up a foundation for athletes who could not compete as a result of sanctions, using the funds that Uralkali hopes to reclaim from Haas.

Dmitry Mazepin meets Vladimir Putin in January 2022

Dmitry Mazepin met Vladimir Putin on the day of Russia’s invasion – following this meeting in January

Mikhail MetzelTASS via Getty Images

The EU said that Dmitry Mazepin is being sanctioned as a result of his position as owner and CEO of Uralchem, which manufactures chemical products, including fertilisers. “[He] is thus involved in economic sectors providing a substantial source of revenue to the Government of the Russian Federation, which is responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of Ukraine.

“On 24 February 2022, in the aftermath of the initial stages of Russian aggression against Ukraine, Dmitry Mazepin, along with other 36 businesspeople, met with President Vladimir Putin and other members of the Russian government to discuss the impact of the course of action in the wake of Western sanctions.

“The fact that he was invited to attend this meeting shows that he is a member of the closest circle of Vladimir Putin and that he is supporting or implementing actions or policies which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, as well as stability and security in Ukraine.

“It also shows that he is one of the leading businesspersons involved in economic sectors providing a substantial source of revenue to the Government of Russia, which is responsible for annexation of Crimea and destabilisation of Ukraine.”