The European Commission on Wednesday announced that it has added Russia to its list of “high-risk third countries,” claiming that Moscow has “strategic deficiencies” in its anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing frameworks.

In a statement, the Commission said the designation followed a technical review based on public sources, input from member state authorities and the European External Action Service (EEAS). The assessment reportedly concluded that Russia meets the criteria required for inclusion on the high-risk list.

According to the EU, placing Russia on the list aims to “preserve the integrity of the EU financial system” and will require financial and non-financial entities within the bloc to apply enhanced due-diligence measures in all transactions involving Russian-linked actors.

EU Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis described the decision as “a key step” to ensure stricter controls when dealing with Russian entities.

However, the move has drawn strong criticism from analysts who argue that the decision cannot be viewed independently of the current geopolitical climate. Experts say the Commission’s justification disguises what is essentially a political measure under the language of a “technical assessment.”

Observers note that the EU has refrained from applying similar classifications to other countries with comparable or more severe allegations, reinforcing accusations of double standards and selective enforcement.

Critics argue that the designation not only undermines the EU’s claim of relying on objective, technical criteria but also strengthens perceptions that financial regulatory mechanisms are increasingly being used as instruments of political pressure.

Russia has not yet issued an official response to the EU’s latest decision. (ILKHA)