Brussels: The Council of the European Union announced on Tuesday the imposition of restrictive measures on 28 individuals deemed responsible for serious human rights violations, repression of democratic opposition, and activities undermining the rule of law in Russia.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the new sanctions focus on members of the Russian judiciary, including judges, prosecutors, representatives of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, and regional courts, as well as members of the Investigative Committee involved in fabricating cases against political activists.
The list includes individuals who played a role in the prosecution of the late opposition figure Alexei Navalny by representing the state prosecutor's office in court hearings, issuing verdicts against him and his brother, and managing politically motivated trials against Navalny's lawyers and the technical director of the "Navalny LIVE" YouTube channel.
The sanctions also target individuals involved in sentencing activists Alexei Gorinov, Igor Baryshnikov, and Olga Smirnova, as well as bloggers Ioann Kurmoyarov and Sergey Drugov. These individuals disseminated information about Russian military activities in Ukraine and shared anti-war messages.
The statement noted that their trials were marked by "arbitrary and unfair proceedings" and were used as a tool to intimidate dissenting Russian citizens. Those sanctioned today are subject to asset freezes, and EU citizens and companies are prohibited from providing them with funds. Additionally, they are subject to travel bans, preventing them from entering or transiting through EU territory.
The EU reaffirmed its firm stance in condemning human rights violations and the repression of opposition in Russia, expressing deep concern over the continued deterioration of human rights in the country, especially amid Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine.
The relevant legal acts, including the names of the sanctioned individuals and entities, have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union.