President Volodymyr Zelensky has recently been using sanctions to block activities considered harmful to Ukraine. On April 15, the National Security and Defense Council, the coordinating body for national security and defense under the President of Ukraine, imposed sanctions on 12 Ukrainian smugglers. Previously, on April 2, 10 Ukrainian citizens and 79 legal entities as well were sanctioned on the grounds of smuggling. The president subsequently issued a decree putting these sanctions into action. While such steps are generally perceived positively throughout the country, they set a dangerous long-term precedent. Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group released a statement warning that the recent sanctions are signs of a usurpation of power.
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This handout picture, released by the press service of the Ukrainian Presidential Office on March 15, 2021, shows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a medical mask during a meeting.
