Condemns Alexei Navalny's Punishment, European Union Agrees To Impose Sanctions On Russia

Illustration of a protest in Russia. (zharkoy_k / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The European Union, through its member countries' foreign ministers, agreed to impose sanctions on Russia in connection with the imprisonment of critic Alexei Navalny.

The sanctions deal aimed at four Russian officials was reached at a meeting in Brussels, Belgium on Monday 22 February. This will be a new mechanism, in which penalties for human rights violations are directed at individuals.

"Those who are sanctioned will be subject to asset freezes and entry bans, which will likely take effect after the leaders meet next month, "a diplomatic source told Euronews.

Meanwhile, EU Chief Diplomat Josep Borrell said in a press conference that Russia had moved away from Europe and towards an authoritarian state.

"Ministers unanimously interpreted Russia's recent actions and response as a clear signal not to be interested in cooperation with the European Union. However, the country appears to be interested in confrontation and disengagement from the EU," he said, confirming planned sanctions. but without giving details.

The sanctions mode set up will also be the first to be used by the European Union, similar to the Magnitsky Act in the United States. This mechanism allows 27 member states to punish those deemed responsible for human rights violations through asset freezes and travel bans.

Earlier, in October, the European Union imposed sanctions on six individuals and one entity believed to be involved in Navalny's poisoning.

Russia itself accuses the European Union of meddling too much in its domestic affairs. In fact, Russia said it was ready to react to any interference.

"We are ready to react to a new cycle of restrictive, one-sided, illegitimate action," Moscow's EU Ambassador Vladimir Chizhov told German newspaper Die Welt.

Alexei Navalny, 44, was arrested in January on his return from Germany where he was being treated after attempts to poison him in Russia failed. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) confirmed that the substance used was Novichok, a Soviet-era nerve agent.

At the weekend, he lost his appeal to a decision converting a suspended prison sentence for fraud dating from 2014 to a stern sentence for violating his parole terms.

Navalny was also found guilty in a separate 'defamation' case against a World War II veteran and fined 850,000 rubles (about € 9,500).