Brussels 24.02.2026 The Council of the European Union expanded sanctions against Russia under its sanctions regime for human rights violations. On Monday, February 23, eight more Russians were blacklisted for serious human rights violations, the suppression of civil society and the democratic opposition, and the undermining of democracy and the rule of law in Russia, according to the Council’s website.

#Humanrights in Russia: @EUCouncil lists 8 members of the Russian judiciary & heads of penal colonies for serious human rights violations, including the repression of civil society & democratic opposition.
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— EU Council Press (@EUCouncilPress) February 23, 2026

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Judges, a prosecutor, an investigator, and heads of prison colonies and pretrial detention centers
The list includes two judges, one prosecutor, and one investigator involved in the politically motivated trials of activists Dmitry Skurikhin and Oleg Belousov and responsible for sentencing them.

In addition, the sanctions affect the heads of three penal colonies and the head of the pretrial detention facility where political prisoners Alexei Gorinov, Pavel Kushnir, Mikhail Kriger, and journalist Maria Ponomarenko, who spoke out against Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine and criticized the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, were held. For this, they were “held in solitary confinement in inhumane and degrading conditions,” Brussels noted.

Blacklisted individuals are banned from entering or transiting the EU, their assets in EU countries are frozen, and local citizens and companies are prohibited from providing them with financial support.

EU Sanctions Regime for Human Rights Violations
“The EU remains steadfast in its condemnation of human rights violations and repression in Russia and is deeply concerned by the continued deterioration of the human rights situation in that country, particularly in the context of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine,” the statement emphasized.

According to the EU Council website, the sanctions list for human rights violations in Russia includes 72 individuals and one organization – the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN). This sanctions regime was introduced by the EU in March 2024 following the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a Russian prison colony. The blacklist includes individuals responsible for serious human rights violations, suppression of civil society and democratic opposition, and undermining democracy and the rule of law in Russia.

The Council imposed restrictive measures on eight individuals responsible for serious human rights violations, the repression of civil society and democratic opposition, and for undermining democracy and the rule of law in Russia.

The new listings target members of the judiciary – two judges, one prosecutor and one investigator – involved in politically motivated trials – responsible for sentencing Russian activists Dmitry Skurikhin and Oleg Belousov on politically motivated charges. Furthermore, the measures agreed today target the heads of penal colonies and a pre-detention centre, where political prisoners Aleksei Gorinov, Pavel Kushnir, Mikhail Kriger and journalist Maria Ponomarenko, speaking out against Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and criticising Putin’s regime, were held and kept in solitary confinement and inhuman and degrading conditions.

The individuals designated today are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. They are also subject to a travel ban, which prevents them from entering or transiting through EU territories.

The EU remains unwavering in its condemnation of human rights violations and repressions in Russia, and is deeply concerned about the continuing deterioration of the human rights situation in the country, especially in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

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