EU imposes sanctions on Russians involved in torturing Viktoria Roshchyna and other Ukrainians

On November 20, the EU Council imposed restrictive measures on ten individuals responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses and for repression against civil society and the democratic opposition in Russia.

This is stated in a EU Council press release, as reported by Ukrinform.

According to the statement, the new sanctions target senior officials of the main directorate of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation for Rostov region, including Pre-Trial Detention Centre No. 2, where detainees — including Ukrainian prisoners of war — have been tortured. The report notes that Ukrainians held there were regularly subjected to beatings, starvation, and were given limited or no access to medical care or legal assistance. During interrogations, they faced psychological and physical coercion intended to force confessions to alleged war crimes, acts of terrorism, or other offenses.

“At least 15 detainees have died as a result of ill-treatment, including Ukrainian investigative journalist Victoria Volodymyrivna Roshchyna,” the statement said.

The sanctions also target members of the Russian judiciary who played a key role in the persecution of activist Oleksii Gorinov, a former deputy of the Krasnoselsky district municipal council of Moscow, who was sentenced to three years in prison for expressing his opinion about Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

In addition, the EU Council added to the sanctions list individuals involved in politically motivated persecution of journalists and activists connected to Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny and his foundation.

As noted, the assets of those placed under sanctions are frozen, and EU citizens and companies are prohibited from providing them with funds. The individuals are also subject to a travel ban preventing entry into or transit through EU territory.

In March 2024, the EU Council established a new regime of restrictive measures targeting those responsible for serious human rights violations, repression against civil society and democratic opposition, and actions undermining democracy and the rule of law in Russia — as a response to escalating and systematic repression in the country.

As reported by Ukrinform, Russia has built an entire system of torturing prisoners of war and trains relevant “specialists” to carry it out.

Photo: Viktoria Roshchyna on Facebook