March 3, 2021
2 mins read

EU sanctions Russian officials

Russia’s latest moves against Navalny stirred up tensions with the West.

The four individuals were sanctioned for their “roles in the arbitrary arrest, prosecution and sentencing of Alexei Navalny, as well as the repression of peaceful protests in connection with his unlawful treatment”, said the European Council…reports Asian Lite News

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5h1P97RL-jc

The European Union (EU) has imposed restrictive measures on four Russian individuals responsible for serious human rights violations in Moscow.

The four listed were Alexander Bastrykin, head of Russia’s Investigative Committee; Igor Krasnov, the Prosecutor-General; Viktor Zolotov, head of the National Guard; and Alexander Kalashnikov, head of the Federal Prison Service.

The four individuals were sanctioned for their “roles in the arbitrary arrest, prosecution and sentencing of Alexei Navalny, as well as the repression of peaceful protests in connection with his unlawful treatment”, the European Council said in a statement on Tuesday.

The restrictive measures that entered into force on Tuesday consist of a travel ban and asset freeze.

In addition, persons and entities in the EU are forbidden from making funds available to those listed, either directly or indirectly, said the statement.

The decision was made after Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, proposed the use of the bloc’s new human rights sanctions system at a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the member states last week.

This is the first time the EU has imposed sanctions in the framework of the new EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime since it was launched in December last year.

Also read:‘Russia faces containment threats’

The US also announced on Tuesday sanctions and restrictions against Russian individuals and entities over the alleged poisoning of Navalny.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Twitter that his country stands with the EU and UK “to counter Russia’s actions and in calling for Navalny’s release”.

Navalny, a harsh Kremlin critic, fell into a coma on a flight from the Russian city of Tomsk to Moscow in August 2020.

He was then transferred to a hospital in Berlin with suspected poisoning symptoms.

In early September, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Navalny was poisoned with the Soviet-style Novichok nerve agent.

Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny

Russian authorities denied the accusations and demanded substantial evidence from Germany.

Navalny was detained this January upon his arrival in Moscow from Germany and was later sentenced to over two years behind bars, while his defence plans to appeal the ruling at a higher court.

Russia said the case with Navalny is a purely domestic affair and foreign intervention is not allowed.

“This is an exclusively internal matter. We will not allow anyone to interfere nor intend to listen to such statements,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in January.

Also read:Russia warns US against ‘play with fire’

Previous Story

PICS: Rahul’s Tamilnadu Visit

Next Story

Australia extends border closure

Latest from -Top News

India opens world’s highest rail bridge

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir and flagged off the much-awaited Vande Bharat Express to Srinagar, marking a historic moment

Sisi, MBZ cement ties

UAE and Egypt bolster ties through high-level talks in Abu Dhabi and a landmark cardiac care initiative delivering lifesaving treatment to rural communities The United Arab Emirates and Egypt reaffirmed their strong

‘UAE leads global fight against plastic waste’

UAE accelerates its fight against plastic pollution with a bold single-use plastic ban and expanded environmental policies to safeguard natural ecosystems for future generations The United Arab Emirates continues to lead the

70,000 Gaza kids starve

WFP warned that any further escalation of conflict could paralyse relief operations altogether, deepening the plight of civilians—especially children, the elderly, and vulnerable groups As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza intensifies, the

Prayers on the Mount

The Day of Arafat, considered the pinnacle of the Hajj pilgrimage, witnessed a congregation of believers from around the world As the sun blazed overhead and temperatures climbed to a sweltering 41°C,
Go toTop