Human rights violations in Russia: EU sanctions an additional 10 individuals

European Union foreign ministers imposed on November 20 restrictive measures on 10 individuals responsible for serious violations or abuses of human rights and the repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Russia, according to a statement by the Council of the EU.

The new listings target high level officials in the main directorate of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for the Rostov Oblast, including Pre-Trial Detention Centre No. 2, the statement said.

It said that in the facilities under the authority of the listed individuals, detainees, including Ukrainian prisoners of war, were regularly subjected to beatings, suffered from severe food shortages, and had little to no access to medical care or legal assistance.

During interrogations, they faced both psychological and physical coercion with the aim of forcing them to confess to alleged war crimes, crimes of terrorism, or other offences.

At least 15 detainees have died as a result of ill-treatment, including Ukrainian investigative journalist Victoria Volodymyrivna Roshchyna, the statement said.

The November 20 listings also target members of the Russian judiciary who played a key role in the persecution of the activist Alexei Gorinov, a former municipal deputy in the Krasnoselsky district of Moscow, who was sentenced to three years of imprisonment for expressing his opinion on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Some of the newly listed individuals have been involved in politically motivated prosecutions of journalists and activists associated with Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny and his foundation.

Those designated are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. Natural persons are additionally subject to a travel ban, which prevents them from entering or transiting through EU territories.

“The EU remains unwavering in its condemnation of human rights violations and repressions in Russia, and is deeply concerned about the continuing deterioration of the human rights situation in the country, especially in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” the statement said.

The relevant legal acts, including the names of the listed individuals and entities, have been published in the Official Journal of the EU.