The EU sanctions Russia involved in the chemical program related to the poisoning and death of Alexei Navalny

The Council of the European Union has imposed sanctions against six individuals from Russia involved in the development of chemical weapons, specifically epibatidine, the toxin found in samples taken from Alexei Navalny's body after his death in a Russian penal colony. The EU states that poisoning with epibatidine was considered very likely the cause of his death.

The European Union has sanctioned six individuals from Russia involved in the development of chemical weapons, after the toxin epibatidine was found in samples taken from Alexei Navalny's body after his death in a Russian penal colony. The EU Council states that poisoning with epibatidine was considered very likely the cause of the Russian opposition figure's death.

In brief

1. The EU Council has sanctioned six individuals from Russia involved in the development of chemical weapons.

2. The case is linked to epibatidine, the toxin found in samples taken from Alexei Navalny's body.

3. Among those sanctioned are researchers and specialists from military structures or institutions related to the Russian chemical program.

4. The sanctions include asset freezes, a ban on making funds available to the targeted individuals, and a travel ban in the EU.

5. The EU regime against the use and proliferation of chemical weapons now targets 31 individuals and 6 entities.

The new sanctions target individuals that the EU Council links to the development of epibatidine as a chemical weapon. Epibatidine is indicated in the Council's statement as the toxin found in samples taken from Alexei Navalny's body after his death in detention.

The listed individuals are described as scientists and researchers in the military field. Some have worked for the Signal Scientific Centre, also known as SC Signal, where they researched and published articles on the synthesis of epibatidine. The Council states that this activity contributed to the development of the substance as a chemical weapon.

Among those sanctioned is Igor Babkin, head of the SC Signal laboratory. The list also includes Irina Derevyagina, a chemical research analyst at the State Institute for Organic Chemistry and Technology in Russia, GosNIIOKhT, described as a central part of the Russian chemical weapons program.

The list also includes Mikhail Gutsalyuk, head of the department for organizing scientific activity and training scientific and pedagogical staff at the Military Academy of Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense.

The measures adopted mean that the sanctioned individuals have their assets frozen in the European Union. EU citizens and companies are prohibited from making funds or economic resources available to them, directly or indirectly. The targeted individuals cannot travel in the European Union.

The Council states that the European sanctions regime against the use and proliferation of chemical weapons now applies to a total of 31 individuals and 6 entities.

The EU links these measures to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction. The Council asserts that the Union remains committed to combating the proliferation and use of chemical weapons.

The European legal framework for sanctions against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons was adopted on October 15, 2018. The measures under this framework are in effect until October 16, 2026, and the Council can renew the sanctions or amend the list of targeted individuals and entities.

The European Council established in March 2018 that the use of chemical weapons, including the use of any toxic substances as weapons, is completely unacceptable, must be systematically and rigorously condemned, and represents a security threat.

The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/stiri/ue-sanctioneaza-sase-rusi-implicati-in-programul-chimic-legat-de-otravirea-si-moartea-lui-alexei-navalnii