Alina Kabaeva, a girl who has been romantically linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin, is included within the sixth proposed bundle of European Union sanctions in opposition to Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, in line with two European diplomatic sources.
At this stage, names might be taken off or added at member states' discretion and is predicted to be some extent of negotiation when any new sanctions bundle is proposed, an EU Fee supply informed CNN.
The EU has not formally signed off on the draft proposal.
"Discussions are happening. It isn't a bit of cake, however we now have to attend and see," one of many diplomatic sources informed CNN on Friday morning.
CNN has reached out to Russia's Nationwide Media Group, of which Ms Kabaeva is head, for touch upon the proposed sanctions.
Kabaeva, who was born in 1983, was first linked to Putin greater than a decade in the past, whereas she was a medal-winning gymnast.
Putin, who's divorced, has denied a relationship along with her.
In April, the Wall Road Journal reported that US officers had been debating whether or not or to not place sanctions on Kabaeva, with issues that such a transfer would possibly enhance tensions additional as a result of it could possibly be an excessive private blow to Putin.
The top of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, can be among the many people who're included within the proposed sixth spherical of EU sanctions, in line with two sources who've seen the total paperwork.
The proposed sanctions are out of contact with "widespread sense," Russian Orthodox Church spokesperson Vladimir Legoida mentioned Wednesday, in line with Russian state information company TASS.
"The extra indiscriminate (these) sanctions turn out to be, the extra they lose contact with widespread sense and the tougher it turns into to succeed in peace, which is what the Russian Orthodox Church prays for at each service with the blessing of His Holiness the Patriarch," Legoida mentioned in a Telegram put up.
"Solely these fully blind to the historical past of our Church can search to intimidate its clergy and believers by compiling some lists," Legoida mentioned.
The EU has been ratcheting up its financial motion in opposition to Russia because the begin of the conflict in Ukraine.
Most not too long ago, the bloc has proposed a ban on Russian oil imports, one thing that will have a significant influence on Russia's economy, although Hungary, an EU member state with shut hyperlinks to Putin, is more likely to scupper any such plans.
Who's Alina Kabaeva?
Kabaeva and Putin reportedly met when she was a younger gymnast, who gained a number of medals domestically, at European competitions and on the Olympic Video games.
She was awarded the gold medal for rhythmic gymnastics on the Athens Video games in 2004.
Extensively identified in her residence nation, she was chosen as one of many torchbearers when Russia hosted the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia in 2014, an occasion that happened shortly earlier than Russia illegally annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.
Kabaeva has made public statements in help of the Russian army because the begin of the conflict in Ukraine, most not too long ago calling on Russian residents to rally behind the conflict effort.
Ukrainian house block was large doll's home by Russian bombs
At a current gymnastics occasion, she mentioned: "Each household has a historical past of conflict, and we should not overlook about it. We should always hand it over from era to era."
In line with the Wall Road Journal, US officers say she and her household have turn out to be rich resulting from her proximity to Putin, although the Kremlin continues to disclaim any relationship between the 2.
The US Treasury division has refused to touch upon the case.
No matter her precise relationship with the Russian President, if her identify does seem on the ultimate listing of EU sanctions, Kabaeva — nonetheless comparatively unknown outdoors Russia — and her funds will come below big worldwide scrutiny.