Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/952 of 22 March 2024 implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/952of 22 March 2024implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abusesTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 of 7 December 2020 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abusesOJ L 410 I, 7.12.2020, p. 1., and in particular Article 14(1) thereof,Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,Whereas:(1)On 7 December 2020, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2020/1998.(2)On 8 December 2020, in the Declaration by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on behalf of the European Union, regarding the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, the Union and its Member States reaffirmed their strong commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime underscores the Union’s determination to enhance its role in addressing serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide. Achieving the effective enjoyment of human rights by everyone is a strategic goal of the Union. Respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights is a fundamental value of the Union and its common foreign and security policy.(3)The Union is deeply concerned about the continuing deterioration of the human rights situation in Russia. Russia’s illegal, unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine has further accelerated internal repression in Russia, drastically limiting freedom of opinion and expression and media freedom and introducing war censorship.(4)The Union continues to strongly condemn the severe expansion of restrictive legislation against, and the systematic repression of, civil society and human rights defenders, as well as the unabated crackdown on independent media, individual journalists and media workers, political opposition members and other critical voices active throughout Russia and outside it.(5)On 19 February 2024, in the Statement by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on behalf of the European Union, on the death of Alexei Navalny, the Union expressed its outrage about his death and recalled its repeated condemnation of his poisoning and of the politically motivated actions taken against him, including his imprisonment and ill treatment in the prison system. It underlined that the Union will spare no efforts to hold Russia’s political leadership and authorities to account for his death and that it will impose further sanctions.(6)The Union reiterates its call on Russia to immediately and unconditionally release all those imprisoned on politically motivated charges.(7)In that context, 33 persons and 2 entities should be included in the list of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2020/1998.(8)Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 should therefore be amended accordingly,HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: