EU Russia ends relations with the European Union and imprisons Navalny until 2023
European Union Josep Borrell defends himself after his controversial visit to Moscow: "I didn't want to get involved.
After deep internal disputes, an image crisis and the failed trip of High Representative Josep Borrell to Moscow a few weeks ago, the EU Foreign Ministers gave the green light this Monday to a new round of sanctions against Russia in the Navalny case.
"It takes unity and determination," explained the Spaniard.
"Russia is veering towards authoritarianism and away from Europe.
Ministers interpret it as a clear signal that they are not interested in cooperating, but in clashing and separating from the EU. Today we have confirmed our unity, our best asset. And we have decided that we need to work within a three-line framework:
respond when human rights and international law are violated;
Contain when pressure, misinformation and cyber attacks mount.
And speak, on vital issues.
They are violating human rights and freedoms, but we must also interact on the issues in which we are interested, "added the Spanish."
Meeting in Brussels, the ministers have completed one of their most intense meetings in recent times, because in addition to the important step forward in the fight with Moscow, there has also been consensus on more punishment for senior officials of Nicolás Maduro, a harsher message to China for what happened in Hong Kong and a preparatory work to also punish the military leaders responsible for the coup in Burma.
All this before (or perhaps also thanks to) a virtual meeting with the new US Secretary of State,
Antony Blinken.
Sanctions on Moscow have not been a straightforward process.
The Baltic and Eastern countries are very militant, but Berlin was reluctant, with the last fringes of the Nord Stream II gas pipeline ending.
And in Paris it was not too funny either, as Macron has long been looking for a way to bring positions closer to Putin.
But even so, Navalny's poisoning and imprisonment, coupled with Borrell's trip, have made it clear that
the Kremlin does not want to soften anything right now.
That said, even with a political agreement, applying sanctions is not that simple.
"It is not like in the US, it is not an executive order, the sanctions can be challenged and end up in court,"
say community sources.
That also explains, according to diplomatic sources, the decision not to target some of the country's main oligarchs and Putin's barons, as requested this Sunday by Navalny's chief of staff and the director of his foundation, in a exchange with the 27 capitals.
In order to have a sufficiently solid legal basis, which later cannot lead to surprises or displeasure before a judge, it would take an in-depth investigation and accumulate incontestable evidence, which would take months in the best of cases.
On the other hand, it is something that has already been done and is easier with public positions, so results could be seen in weeks, before or after the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the 27, which will face each other in Brussels at the end of March.
Borrell has indicated that he will use his prerogative of initiative to make a proposal, and although it is a complicated legal and technical issue, he expects results "in no more than a week."
The spirit of sanctions is the usual one in the EU: that it hurts specific people in response to specific sanctions, and not the entire country and the population.
For this reason, although the ministers have not discussed specific names today, the technical services have already received specific suggestions.
For example, the head of the investigation committee, responsible for large cases.
The director of prisons, the National Guard or the attorney general, according to Reuters.
There are already almost 200 Russian officials and leaders on some kind of list
, especially after the occupation of Crimea or cyberattacks.
The names that are ringing now, after significant pressure from Berlin, are limited to those with direct responsibility for the Navalny case and the crackdown on civil society protests.
Just a few weeks ago, the EU launched its own 'Magnitsky law', a sanctions mechanism to punish those responsible, political or material, of human rights violations in any corner of the planet.
What allows freezing assets, prohibiting travel.
"I am in favor of giving instructions to prepare additional sanctions, lists of specific people," said German Minister Heiko Maas.
"But at the same time we need to talk about how to continue to have a constructive dialogue with Russia, even if relations are at historic lows
,
" he
added.
That is why Borrell presented different options to support civil society and fight against disinformation, but also put issues such as the Iranian nuclear agreement, the situation in the Middle East in general and the global challenges, since the pandemic, at the top of the list. to climate change.
"The best defense is a vigorous attack," said the Spanish Minister, Arancha González Laya, who has once again met the attacks from Moscow to Spain.
Taking advantage of Borrell's nationality,
the Russian Government has urged to apply in the streets of Barcelona what they ask for in Russia.
"As I always respect their statements, I have been clear in explaining the differences. Spain is a full democracy. The fact that it is full does not mean that we are a perfect democracy, we are not. We all have to improve and perfect our democracies, but the situation is very different from Russia, "repeated the minister, who assures that she has not had to explain to any of her colleagues what is happening these days in the streets of Madrid or Barcelona.
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Russia
European Union
Diplomacy Josep Borrell defends his trip to Russia: "Diplomacy channels must remain open"
Diplomacy & GeopoliticsTurbulence and a zasca on the route of diplomacy in Spain
European UnionRussia criticizes the "propaganda" of Arancha González Laya and accuses Josep Borrell of being a puppet
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