EU to impose sanctions after Alexei Navalny's death triggers outcry
2:10 PM EDT, March 15, 2024
On Monday, during the meeting of the EU member states' foreign affairs heads in Brussels, a political agreement is expected to be reached regarding sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for the death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, according to a high-ranking European source in Brussels.
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A source from the Polish Press Agency anticipates that the proposal made on Monday will gain support, with the procedure's finalization expected in the coming days.
EU sanctions following Navalny's death
In mid-February, Josep Borrell, the EU’s chief diplomat, announced that the European Union's member states are set to propose sanctions related to Navalny's death. He further stated that Vladimir Putin bears the most responsibility for the Russian opposition figure's death.
The enigmatic death in a Russian penal colony
On February 16th, Russian prison authorities declared that Alexei Navalny, serving a three-year sentence, had died in a penal colony located beyond the Arctic Circle. Navalny was 47 years old at the time of his death.
According to the Russian services' statement, Navalny became ill after taking a walk and lost consciousness almost immediately. "The medical team of the penal institution responded immediately, emergency services were summoned, and all necessary resuscitation measures were undertaken, unfortunately without a positive outcome," the statement reads.
Navalny, whose sudden death occurred under obscure conditions while serving a 19-year sentence—with the potential for up to 30 years—was mourned by thousands.
Source: Polish Press Agency (PAP)
