According to AFP Brussels on February 21, EU foreign ministers plan to approve sanctions against Russia on Monday local time because “the country imprisoned Alexei Navalny who criticized the Kremlin and suppressed protests”.
According to the report, the top diplomats of the 27 EU countries will meet in Brussels.
Diplomats say governments are considering using the EU’s new human rights sanctions system for the first time to fight against individuals responsible for the repression through asset freezes and visa bans.
The report quoted a senior EU diplomat as saying: “I expect a political agreement.”
The diplomat also said: “Then experts from member states will then study who will be included in the list.”
Two weeks ago, Josep Borelli, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, was reportedly ambushed in Moscow, angering EU member states.
According to the report, after Borelli’s disastrous trip to Russia, the EU’s attitude towards Moscow became tough.
During that visit, Moscow announced that it would expel three European diplomats and refuted the claims of cooperation.
The report also said that Navalny was arrested after returning from Germany on January 17.
He has been receiving rehabilitation treatment in Germany before suffering from nerve agents.
Since 2014, the European Union has imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russia.
After the Navalny poisoning case, the European Union blacklisted six Russian officials.
According to the report, two people close to Navalny met with foreign ministers of several EU countries in Brussels on the 21st to promote the introduction of new sanctions against Russia.
