European Union (EU) foreign ministers on Monday imposed sanctions on Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service and 19 Russians for human rights violations following the death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny in a prison in February.
“The shocking death of Alexei Navalny was yet another sign of accelerated and systematic repression by the Kremlin regime. We will spare no effort to hold the Russian political leadership and authorities accountable,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.
The Kremlin has denied any state involvement in Navalny’s death.
The sanctions include judges, prosecutors and members of the Russian judiciary. Their assets in the European Union, if any, are frozen and European companies are prohibited from making funds available to them.
