Europe set to sanction Russia for imprisoning Navalny

Governments of the European Union they would impose sanctions on Russia on Monday for the jail of the opposition leader Alexey Navalny, said two diplomats familiar with the matter.

Punitive measures are unlikely to target Russian tycoons, as Navalny and his allies sought, because some member states of the bloc they are afraid to cut all ties with Moscow. Instead, the boundaries are likely to affect Russian officials and entities suspected of being directly involved in the case.

Differences over who to blacklist underscore that the European Union is walking a tightrope between easing concerns on its eastern flank over Vladimir Putin’s measures and fears in Brussels about China and whether it would benefit of confrontation to increase its influence in Russia. .

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In principle, a green light from foreign ministers for the measures will be the first step in a legal process that should culminate in the formal approval of sanctions in March. The sanctions need the unanimous support of the 27 members of the bloc to be adopted.

Punish senior officials

Navalny’s allies demanded the block sanction senior officials, state bankers and billionaires Roman Abramovich and Alisher Usmanov. A spokesperson for Abramovich said the allegations made against him by Navalny and his allies were unfounded. Usmanov did not respond to requests for comment.

Navalny, 44, was arrested in mid-January on his return from Germany, where he was treated for poisoning with nerve agents. Navalny and Western Nations Blamed President Putin’s Federal Security Service, known as FSB. The Kremlin has denied any role in the attack.

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February 2 a Moscow court sentenced Navalny to 2 years and 8 months for violating the probation conditions of a previously suspended fraud conviction. His imprisonment sparked the biggest protests against Putin in years and a violent crackdown with 11,000 arrests and the continuation of Navalny’s aides. Russia has repeatedly rejected calls by the European Union and the United States to release him.

Russia on Wednesday rejected a decision by the European Court of Human Rights calling for Navalny’s immediate release, dismissing the decision as an intervention in its internal affairs.

Wide support

In the European Union, there has been broad support for the introduction of sanctions between member states at a meeting of diplomats this week, according to a note of the discussion seen by Bloomberg. Several member states, including the three Baltic states, Poland and Sweden, called for swift action, the note said.

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Others like Germany and Italy warned that any decision must be taken on a solid legal basisbecause the measures should be valid in court, adding that the sanctions should not close the door to engagement with Russia and the bloc’s broader strategic interests.

Member States will submit the proposed lists to the European External Action Service (EEAS). After a discussion on these proposals, the EEAS, which coordinates the process, it will establish a final list of sanctions and ensure that it is legally justified and robust before final approval by member states.