Global Courant
LONDON
The Council of Europe blacklisted nine Russians on Monday in response to Russia’s 25-year prison sentence for opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza.
The council said in a statement that it had imposed restrictive measures under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime on nine people who punished the Russian opposition politician, democracy activist and outspoken Kremlin critic on politically motivated charges and baseless allegations.
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Strongly condemning the decision, the statement called on Russia to “immediately and unconditionally” release Kara-Murza and all those detained for “political motives”.
Claiming that Russia’s war against Ukraine has “increased internal pressure in Russia”, the Council said the European Union was concerned about the “continuing worsening of the human rights situation” in the country.
“Today’s sanctions decision demonstrates once again the European Union’s determination to stand in solidarity with all those who are tried, imprisoned or intimidated for fighting for their human rights,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.
In April, a Russian court sentenced Kara-Murza to 25 years in prison for treason, spreading “false information” about the Russian military, and leading an “undesirable” organization.
He has been in detention since April 2022 after speaking against the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war before the Arizona House of Representatives in the US a month ago.
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The Global Human Rights Sanction Regime, established by the Council of Europe on 7 December 2020, applies to “acts such as genocide, crimes against humanity and other serious human rights violations or abuses”.
According to the EU, restrictive measures under the Global Human Rights Sanction Regime were applied to a total of 43 individuals and 15 organizations.
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