Brussels 27.05.2024 The Council today established a new framework for restrictive measures against those responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses, repression of civil society and democratic opposition, 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 the accelerating and systematic repression in Russia. The new regime was proposed by HRVP Borrell after the untimely death of the opposition politician Alexei Navalny in Siberian prison in February.

The decision to establish this new sanctions’ regime is part of the EU’s response to the accelerating and systematic repression in Russia. The new regime was proposed by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, after the untimely death of the opposition politician Alexei Navalny in Siberian prison in February.

Furthermore, the new sanctions regime introduces trade restrictions on exporting equipment, which might be used for internal repression, as well as on equipment, technology or software intended primarily for use in information security and the monitoring or interception of telecommunication.

“Alexei Navalny’s shocking death was another sign of the accelerating and systematic repression by the Kremlin regime. He, as with other political prisoners and victims, gave hope to democrats and civil society in Russia. We will spare no efforts to hold the Russian political leadership and authorities to account, including through this new sanctions’ regime, targeting those limiting the respect for and violating human rights in Russia”, said Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Today the Council also decided to list one entity and 19 natural persons under the new regime:

-the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation, which is the central authority managing the Russian prison system, known for its widespread and systematic abuses against, and ill-treatment of, political prisoners in Russia. As a federal agency, FSIN is responsible for the penal colonies where Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny was held on politically motivated charges and ultimately died on 16 February 2024, and

-several judges, prosecutors and members of the judiciary, who played a key role in the imprisonment and ultimate death of Alexei Navalny, as well as the sentencing on politically motivated charges of Oleg Orlov, one of the most respected and longest-serving human rights defender in Russia, one of the leaders of 2022 Nobel Peace Prize-winning organisation Memorial Human Rights Defence Center, and artist Alexandra Skochilenko.

Those designated today are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. Natural persons are additionally subject to a travel ban, which prevents them from entering or transiting through EU territories.

The EU remains deeply concerned about the continuing deterioration of the human rights situation in Russia, especially in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and strongly condemns the severe expansion of restrictive legislation, the systematic and intensifying repression against civil society and human rights defenders, as well as the unabated crackdown on independent media, individual journalists and media workers, political opposition members and other critical voices active throughout the Russian Federation and outside the country.

On 19 February 2024, the High Representative expressed, on behalf of the EU, outrage on the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and stated that the ultimate responsibility for this death lies with President Putin and the Russian authorities. The High Representative urged Russia to allow an independent and transparent international investigation into circumstances of Mr. Navalny’s death, and asserted that it is yet another sign of the accelerating and systematic repression in Russia.

In its conclusions of 22 March 2024 the European Council called for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Russia and an end to the persecution of the political opposition. Furthermore, it called for work to be taken forward in the Council to establish a new sanctions regime in view of the situation in Russia.

The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union.