The essence of the act:
This is a Council Implementing Regulation that updates the EU’s sanctions list related to serious human rights violations. The regulation specifically amends information about two Russian officials who are deemed responsible for human rights violations in connection with the death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny in the IK-3 penal colony.
Structure and main provisions:
The regulation consists of two main articles and an annex. Article 1 introduces amendments to Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2020/1998, while Article 2 sets the entry into force. The key change is in the Annex, which updates entries number 80 and 105, providing detailed information about two Russian officials: Alexander Valerievich Obraztsov (deputy head of the IK-3 penal colony) and Vladimir Sergeevich Shvedov (head of Department in Russian Ministry of Justice).
Most important provisions:
1. The detailed identification data for both sanctioned individuals, including their positions, dates of birth, nationalities, and addresses
2. Specific reasons for their listing, describing their roles in human rights violations
3. Both officials are directly linked to the circumstances of Alexei Navalny’s death in the IK-3 penal colony
4. The violations attributed to them include torture, inhuman treatment, arbitrary detentions, and violation of freedom of expression
5. The listing includes specific details about their responsibilities and direct involvement in the violations, making the sanctions targeted and well-substantiated
