The EU has added 10 officials to its sanctions list over the exclusion of the anti-war Yabloko party from Russia's State Duma vote, citing intensified repression and the sidelining of democratic opposition. Those designated include several judges (three from Moscow's Supreme Court) and an official from the Prosecutor General's Office. In a related move, the EU sanctioned 10 people and 17 entities linked to the deportation and forced adoption of Ukrainian children, including Moscow's tourism authority and two children's services companies.
EU Adds Officials to Sanctions List Over Exclusion of Yabloko, Targets Child Deportation Network
A local election commission counts votes after the final day of voting in Russia's regional elections in Krasnoyarsk. (is associated with: «EU imposes sanctions on Russia over rigged parliamentary election») Vladislav Nekrasov/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
The European Union has imposed new sanctions on officials held responsible for blocking the anti-war Yabloko party from participating in Russia's recent State Duma election. On Monday, the EU added 10 people to its existing list of individuals and entities subject to asset freezes and travel bans.
Who Was Targeted
The newly designated individuals include several judges — among them three judges from the Supreme Court in Moscow — and an official from the Prosecutor General's Office. The EU said these measures respond to actions that excluded democratic opposition voices from the electoral process.
EU Reaction to the Vote
The bloc's 27 member states sharply criticized last week's State Duma vote after it concluded with a decisive victory for the Kremlin-backed United Russia party. In a statement, the EU said Russian authorities had escalated systematic, institutional repression both inside Russia and beyond its borders to prevent democratic opposition forces from challenging the status quo.
“Russian authorities have further intensified systematic and institutionalized repression to prevent democratic opposition forces from challenging the status quo,” the EU said.
Separate Measures Over Ukrainian Children
On the same day, the EU announced additional sanctions linked to Russia's programme of deporting and forcibly adopting Ukrainian children. Those measures target 10 people and 17 entities, according to a press release, and name Moscow's tourism authority along with two Russian companies operating in children's recreation, tourism and entertainment.
The EU statement said the organisations are involved in organising activities that contribute to the indoctrination and forced integration of Ukrainian minors into Russian identity, education and social structures. The targeted measures are intended to disrupt networks facilitating these transfers and to hold responsible officials and organisations accountable.
Sanctions imposed: asset freezes and travel bans for the newly listed individuals and restrictions on the designated entities.
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