Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

“The harsh prison sentence handed down to Vladimir Kara-Murza clearly demonstrates the political abuse of the Russian judiciary to suppress civil society and independent voices opposing Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine,” said Josep Borrell, EU foreign policy chief.
This came in conjunction with a European decision to expand sanctions against Moscow on grounds of human rights violations
  "Monday's sanctions decision demonstrates, once again, the European Union's determination to stand in solidarity with all those who are being prosecuted, imprisoned or intimidated because of their struggle for human rights, to speak the truth," Borrell added.
The Council of the European Union has imposed restrictive measures against nine individuals, under its global human rights sanctions regime, for sentencing Russian opposition politician, democracy activist and outspoken critic of the Kremlin Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in prison on politically motivated charges and false allegations.
According to a statement distributed in Brussels on Monday evening, "The European Union strongly condemns the verdict and calls on Russia to immediately and unconditionally release Vladimir Kara-Murza and all those imprisoned on politically motivated charges."
Among the individuals listed is the Deputy Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation responsible for enforcing “foreign agents” legislation that has been at the center of a wave of repressive laws cracking down on independent civil society, the media, as well as dissident individuals. It also includes judges and other members of the judiciary, as well as a senior officer in the Russian prison system responsible for the degrading treatment that led to a significant deterioration in Kara-Murza's health.
According to the statement, the EU's restrictive measures under the global human rights sanctions regime now apply to a total of 43 individuals and 15 entities. Designated persons are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are prohibited from making funds available to them. In addition, natural persons are subject to a travel ban that prevents them from entering or transiting through the territory of the European Union.
The European Union is concerned about the continuing deterioration of the human rights situation in Russia. Russia's unjustified and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine amplified internal repression in Russia, greatly limiting freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of the media, and censorship of the war.
The European Union continues to strongly condemn the extreme expansion of restrictive legislation and systematic repression against civil society and human rights defenders, as well as the ongoing repression of independent media, individual journalists, members of the political opposition and other critical voices.