Ministers Externalities of the European Union (EU) agreed this Monday to impose sanctions against thirty individuals and legal entities in connection with death opposition leader in prison Russian Alexey Navalny.

At a press conference following a meeting of the Community Council of Local Ministers, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Josep Borrell, reported that they would be subject to sanctions under the EU’s general regime of restrictive measures for human rights violations.

The sanctions will become more effective later, after they are published in the Official Journal of the EU, and include a travel ban to the EU for affected people and a freeze on any funds they may have within the EU.

In a statement today, the EU did not recognize the results of the Russian presidential elections held in the occupied territory. Ukraine for violation of international law.

Regarding the elections in Russia, which once again brought victory Vladimir Putin, They noted that they occurred “in a context of increasingly narrowed political space, which has led to an alarming increase in human rights violations.” civil and political”, and in which many candidates were not allowed to run, including anyone who opposed the war in Ukraine.

“There is a clear difference between holding elections in someone else’s house and holding them in your own,” Borrell commented at a press conference, adding that in Russia in this context “it’s raining wet” and that “fake elections” (false ) in the sense that there is no freedom of speech or alternative candidates.”

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“We know what elections are in Russia, And if they are made on territory that belongs to a neighboring country, then a double sentence,” he commented.

European ministers today heard from their Ukrainian counterpart: Dmitry Kuleba, situation in their country, and officially approved the assistance fund for Ukraine, allocated 5 billion euros for this year as part of European Peace Foundation (FEAP).

Borrell assured that this will give predictability to the EU’s military support for Ukraine, which will continue to be guided by the needs expressed by Kiev and will include joint procurement, bilateral assistance or even the training that the Ukrainian military receives through a European mission dedicated to it. .

“The Ukraine Assistance Fund is designed to help Ukraine. “Not to develop European industry, but to help Ukraine,” he emphasized.

On the other hand, the community’s head of diplomacy said he today appreciates the “strong consensus”, although not unanimity, in promoting the use of emergency benefits from Russian assets frozen in the EU due to sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine. hopes to present a proposal in this sense together with European Commission.

(EFE)