EU backs new sanctions against Russia over Alexei Navalny’s death
- EU action targets some 30 people and two entities, including prison and government officials, judges
- Russian authorities say Alexei Navalny died in an Arctic prison on February 16 of natural causes
Foreign ministers of the European Union agreed on new sanctions related to the death of the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in an Arctic prison last month.
The ministers approved the package during a meeting in Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters Monday.
The restrictive measures include some 30 persons and two entities, according to an earlier draft of the proposal seen by Bloomberg.
The decision comes after Vladimir Putin was declared the winner of a presidential election whose outcome was predetermined. Putin extended his quarter-century rule after winning 87.3 per cent of the vote with no serious challenger in the election.
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Among the proposed listings are several prison and government officials and judges, as well as the IK-3 and IK-6 penal colonies, according to the draft.
The EU approved a modest package of sanctions last month aimed at Moscow, its 13th since Russia invaded Ukraine. Those measures focused on enforcing existing restrictions.