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Comment by Foreign Minister Tsahkna on the decision by the EU to impose sanctions on individuals linked to the persecution of Russian dissident Kara-Murza and agreeing on a criterion for adding the family members of Russian oligarchs to sanctions lists

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

07.06.2023

"I welcome yesterday evening's decision by the European Union to impose sanctions on the nine individuals linked to the persecution of Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza and establishing the criterion that makes it easier to add family members of Russian oligarchs to sanctions lists.

It is Estonia's position that those who persecuted and imprisoned Kara-Murza must be added to the global human rights sanctions regime and we have repeatedly stated this at meetings in the EU. The common position of the EU is that the systematic persecution of the civil society and human rights activists is unacceptable.

However, our work is not done. We are standing up for the unconditional and immediate release of all political prisoners in Russia and holding the organisers of repressions to account.

At the EU yesterday evening, we also took a step towards preventing the evasion of sanctions imposed on individuals connected to Russia's war in Ukraine. Russian oligarchs are systematically using their family members and other close ones to circumvent sanctions. At Estonia's proposal, a criterion was added to the EU's regulation today that makes it easier to apply sanctions to the family members of Russian oligarchs, as they are clearly accomplices in the evasion of sanctions and making a profit, and therefore, they are supporting Russia's inhuman war in Ukraine. We will continue raising the cost of the war for Russia for as long as necessary."