The European Union condemned, on Friday 30 April and Saturday 1 May, the decision of the Russian authorities on 30 April to ban eight EU citizens, including the President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, and the Vice-President of the European Commission, Věra Jourová (see EUROPE 12710/29), from entering the Russian Federation.
“This decision, which directly targets the European Union and its Member States, is unacceptable, devoid of any legal justification and baseless”, denounced the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, in a statement on behalf of the EU27, underlining that the EU stands in solidarity with those sanctioned.
According to him, Moscow has “chosen confrontation with the EU instead of agreeing to redress the negative trajectory of our bilateral relations”.
Mr Borrell warned that Russia’s actions will not deter the EU from continuing to stand up for human rights, democracy and international law nor from holding those responsible for violations and abuses of human rights to account.
The presidents of the three institutions - the European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament - condemned the Russian decision “in the strongest possible terms”. “This action targets the European Union directly, not only the individuals concerned”, they said in a joint statement. The three Presidents warned that the EU reserved the right to take appropriate measures in response to the decision of the Russian authorities.
Mr Sassoli warned that no amount of punishment or intimidation will deter him or the European Parliament from defending human rights, freedom and democracy. “Threats will not silence us. As Tolstoy wrote, there is no greatness where there is no truth”, he stressed, via Twitter.
“Russia's continued efforts to sow disinformation and undermine human rights deserve a strong and ongoing response. If [being sanctioned] is the price for telling the truth, then I will gladly pay it”, commented Ms Jourová.
On Monday 3 May, the Russian Ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, was summoned and received by the Secretary-General of the European Commission, Ilze Juhansone, and the Secretary-General of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Stefano Sannino. “The ambassador has been informed of the rejection and strong condemnation by the EU institutions and EU Member States of this decision, which is purely politically motivated and has no legal justification”, said a European Commission statement. The Secretaries-General expressed their deep concern about the cumulative impact of the latest Russian decisions - the expulsion of Czech diplomats and the list of “unfriendly States” - on relations between the EU and the Russian government, warning that the EU reserved the right to take appropriate measures in response.
On the Russian side, the tone of the communiqué is quite different. According to the Russian Mission to the EU, the current state of relations between Russia and the EU was discussed and both sides expressed regret at the deteriorating trend in relations, which has recently intensified. According to the mission, the importance of diplomatic efforts to rectify the “current unhealthy situation” in the dialogue between Moscow and Brussels was underlined and the Russian side reaffirmed its readiness to engage in this process.
The Russian decision will be on the agenda of the EU foreign ministers’ meeting on 10 May. In particular, they will discuss “the best and most effective way to respond to recent Russian actions”, announced European External Action Service spokesman Peter Stano (see EUROPE 12708/5).
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
Also targeted is French LREM member Jacques Maire, who was responsible for two reports on the Navalny case in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. “I am surprised by this decision”, he said on Twitter on 30 April, “even though the Council of Europe hasn’t taken sanctions against Russia. This doesn’t change my mandate and will have no impact on the content of a report based on facts and law. Russia limits its ability to present its point of view to the rapporteur”.
Adopted in April, Jacques Maire’s first report led to the adoption of a resolution and a recommendation calling for Navalny’s immediate release in application of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. The second, on the investigation into his poisoning, will be debated and voted at the June plenary. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant and Véronique Leblanc)