Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/372 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses

Summary:

Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/372 - adopted by the Council of the European Union on 2 March 2021 - introducing amendments to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 which concerns to sanctions against human rights violations and abuses.

Further information:

Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 established an EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime (also known as the European Magnitsky Act).

The EU's High Representative for Foreign Policy issued on 18 January 2021 a declaration condemning the detention of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny upon his return to the country and calling for his immediate release. The Council of the European Union agreed at a meeting on 22 February to work on restrictive measures in response to serious human rights violations. In this context, it was decided that four Russian persons should be included in the list of those subject to sanctions set out in the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999.

This Council Decision amends the European Magnitsky Act accordingly. It was adopted by the Council on 2 March 2021 and published in the Official Journal on the same day.

Official

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 02/03/2021: Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime: EU sanctions four people responsible for serious human rights violations in Russia https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/03/02/global-human-rights-sanctions-regime-eu-sanctions-four-people-responsible-for-serious-human-rights-violations-in-russia/

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News

RFE/RL, 21/02/2021: Austria Expects 'Broad Support' For New Russia Sanctions In Response To Navalny's Jailing https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-foreign-ministers-navalny-new-sanctions-schallenberg/31114032.html

The Moscow Times, 21/02/2021: EU Likely To Approve Sanctions Over Russia Crackdown https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/02/21/eu-likely-to-approve-sanctions-over-russia-crackdown-a73026

The Guardian, 22/02/2021: EU to sanction Russians responsible for Alexei Navalny's detention https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/22/eu-must-be-united-and-determined-on-russia-sanctions-says-josep-borrell-alexi-navalny

Euronews, 22/02/2021: EU ministers agree human rights sanctions on Russian officials over Alexei Navalny's jailing https://www.euronews.com/2021/02/22/eu-agrees-further-sanctions-on-russia-over-alexei-navalny-s-jailing

Deutsche Welle, 22/02/2021: EU agrees to plan sanctions against Russia https://p.dw.com/p/3pgbZ

Reuters, 22/02/2021: EU to sanction four Russians over Navalny, including prosecutors https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2AM0M2

Associated Press, 22/02/2021: EU to hit more Russian officials with sanctions over Navalny https://apnews.com/article/1792b2a5f9890f10fd72fb297de13026

Politico, 22/02/2021: EU foreign ministers push new Russia sanctions https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-foreign-ministers-push-new-russia-sanctions/

EurActiv, 22/02/2021: EU ministers set to sanction Russia, speak with Blinken https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/eu-ministers-set-to-sanction-russia-speak-online-with-blinken/

RFE/RL, 22/02/2021: Russia 'Disappointed' As EU Ministers Agree New Sanctions Over Navalny Jailing, Clampdown https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-sanctions-russia-navalny-jailing-/31114960.html

Bloomberg, 01/03/2021: EU Ambassadors Approve Russia Sanctions Over Navalny Jailing https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-01/eu-ambassadors-approve-russia-sanctions-over-navalny-jailing

Deutsche Welle, 02/03/2021: EU, US impose sanctions on Russia over Alexei Navalny poisoning https://p.dw.com/p/3q6Ym

France24, 03/03/2021: US, EU impose sanctions on Russia over poisoning of Alexei Navalny https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20210303-us-eu-impose-sanctions-on-russia-over-poisoning-of-alexei-navalny

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Commentary and Analysis

EUObserver, 25/02/2021: Who are the EU's new Russian deplorables? https://euobserver.com/foreign/151054

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