Admin I Monday, March 18, 2024
BRUSSELS – European Union foreign ministers on Monday agreed new sanctions on Russia in response to the death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, EU diplomats tell dpa.
The sanctions concern people from the Russian judicial system, officials say. More details are expected to be announced in the coming days.
The move follows the choreographed re-election of Russian president Vladimir Putin over the weekend. The election was overshadowed by Navalny’s death in a Siberian prison camp in February.
“Russia was an election without a choice,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters ahead of the foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels.
Russia’s Election Commission on Sunday declared a landslide victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin following an election marked by allegations of manipulation.
Overshadowing the choreographed election, was Navalny’s death in a Siberian prison in February.
“We will adopt the package of sanctions for the killing of Alexei Navalny,” said Josep Borrell, the EU foreign affairs chief.
However, Lithuanian foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis expressed doubts that there would be a deal on sanctions on Monday. The package needs the unanimous support of EU member states for it to be adopted.
Neighbouring Latvia’s foreign minister – and former prime minister – Krišjānis Kariņš said that whatever sanctions are imposed on Russia should also apply to Belarus, which has aided Moscow’s war against Ukraine.
“Belarus, as we know, is effectively completely controlled by Russia. And the sanctions that are applying to Russia should be applying to Belarus.”
Kariņš said he also wants to ensure the sanctions prevent the export of manganese ore for use in Russia’s arms industry.
