The EU Council this week established a new framework for restrictive measures against those responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses, crackdowns on civil society and democratic dissent, and undermining democracy and the rule of law in Russia.
The decision to establish this new sanctions regime is part of the EU’s response to Russia’s accelerated and systematic repression. The new regime was proposed by Josep Borrell, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, following the sudden death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny in a Siberian prison in February 2024.
The new regime also allows the European Union to target those who provide financial, technical or material support to, or are implicated in, individuals and groups committing human rights abuses in Russia.
The committee also decided to list one institution, the Federal Prison Service of Russia, and 19 natural persons, including several judges, prosecutors and members of the judiciary, who played a key role in the imprisonment and ultimate death of Alexei Navalny, as follows: Oleg Orlov, one of Russia’s most respected and longest-serving human rights defenders, one of the leaders of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization Memorial Human Rights Defense Center, and artist Alexandra Skow. Alexandra Skochilenko was sentenced on politically motivated charges.
Those named under the new regime will be subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies will be banned from providing funds to them. Natural persons are additionally subject to a travel ban and are prohibited from entering or transiting through EU territory.
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