The European Council on Friday imposed sanctions on Russian officials and entities linked to the death of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny. The sanctions were introduced under the EU’s current Global Human Rights Sanction Regime, including an asset freeze, prohibitions on the provision of funds or economic resources, and a travel ban to the EU.

The targets of the sanction include the IK-6 corrective colony and the IK-3 maximum security corrective colony, where Navalny was held from June 2022 until his death. In the decision, the EU Council stated that both penal colonies are known for exerting physical and psychological pressure, full isolation, torture, violence on prisoners and low-quality medical care. The EU Council also confirmed that both penal colonies abused Navalny through solitary confinement in a punishment cell. According to the EU Council, the cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment led to his deterioration of health and eventually his death. 

Apart from the two penal colonies, the decision also named 33 people, including officers working in the penal colonies such as the head of IK-3, Wadim Konstantinowitsch Kalinin, and judicial members who contributed to Navalny’s political repression in Russia. Among these members is Andrey Aleksandrovich Suvorov, a judge at Moscow City Court, who sentenced Navalny to 19 years in a special regime colony under allegedly inhumane conditions in 2023. 

Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said the sanction represents the EU’s determination to hold Russian authorities accountable for the continuing violation of human rights in the country.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council issued a statement in February outlining Russia’s breach of international legal obligations, including using nerve agents banned by the Chemical Weapons Convention, maintaining incommunicado detentions and imposing politically motivated sentences on Navalny.

After Friday’s update, the sanctions list now includes 104 people and 23 entities.