EU countries to impose ban on Russian leaders on Navalny's arrest

Foreign ministers from EU countries have been allowed to place further sanctions against Russian leaders over Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's jailing.

Wednesday, 24th February 2021

EU countries to impose ban on Russian leaders on Navalny's arrest

Foreign ministers from EU countries have been allowed to place further sanctions against Russian leaders over Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's jailing. If approved by the European Council, it will be the first time the EU has used a new tool to facilitate punitive actions on human rights abuses. On Monday, at a meeting in Brussels, the agreement was reached, where it was said four Russian officials are being targetted. According to diplomatic sources, they will be hit with asset freezes and entry bans to the bloc, which will fit take effect once European leaders meet next month. But oligarchs are not thought to figure among them, to the frustration of Navalny's supporters. Rather the measures are directed at police and legal officials responsible for his "unacceptable treatment", Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said ahead of the meeting. The first use of new EU sanctions regime EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell told a news conference on Monday that Russia was "drifting towards an absolute state and driving away from Europe". "The ministers unanimously explained to Russia's recent actions and responses as a clear signal of not being interested in cooperation with the European Union, but the country looks involved in confrontation and disengagement from the European Union," he said, confirming the planned sanctions but without giving details. According to diplomats, the diplomatic chief has been given the task of drawing up the names of officials facing sanctions. It will be the first time Brussels uses its recently placed sanctions regime, similar to the Magnitsky Act in the US. This mechanism enables the 27 member states to punish those considered responsible for social rights abuses through the freezing of assets and travel bans. The US law is named after Sergei Magnitsky, who died in a Russian jail after opening a massive fraud scheme allegedly involving government officials. Dialogue with Moscow The move follows Borrell's much-studied visit to Moscow earlier this month. He made no headway over Navalny, and Russia expelled diplomats from three EU countries during his trip. "It's widely seen as the EU wanting to save face, especially after this disastrous trip by Josep Borrell -- the EU's high representative for foreign affairs -- to Russia two weeks ago, a trip that was largely seen as a humiliation," said Euronews Brussels reporter Bryan Carter. "There have been strong calls especially from the European Parliament for much tougher sanctions to be taken on Russia, but the EU is deeply divided on this issue." Last October, the European Union imposed sanctions on six individuals and one entity it believed were involved in Navalny's poisoning. Before Monday's meeting, Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said they would look at the question of sanctions against Russia again, "particularly because of Navalny's conviction and the fact that he has to serve his sentence at a prison camp". "I am for issuing the mandate to impose such sanctions, preparing the listing of individuals. But at the same time, we must look for ways to remain in dialogue with Moscow. We need Russia to resolve many international conflicts," he added.