EU imposes ‘Navalny package’ of Russia sanctions

The European Union has adopted, 27 May, a human rights-related Russia sanctions package. The measures, focused on ‘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’, make up the so-called ‘Navalny package’ proposed by High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell after anti-Putin activist Alexei Navalny’s death in a Siberian prison.

Through asset freezes and travel bans, Council Regulation 2024/1485 of 27 May ‘will allow the EU to target also those who provide financial, technical, or material support for, or are otherwise involved in or associated with people and entities committing human rights violations in Russia,’ the European Council said in a statement.

Designated entities include Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service (‘FSIN’) and 19 individuals, including ‘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 [human rights activist] Oleg Orlov’.

The new regime also brings in export restrictions on ‘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.’

The EU also sanctioned online news outlet Voice of Europe, which it said ‘has engaged in a systematic, international campaign of media manipulation and distortion of facts to destabilise Ukraine, the EU and its Member States’.