EU adopts sanctions over poisoning of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny

Sweden is working together with the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany and France to hold Russia accountable for violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention and use of the neurotoxin epibatidine, which these countries have deemed to be the cause of Mr Navalny’s death following the analysis of samples. Only Russia had the means, motive and opportunity to expose Mr Navalny to this neurotoxin in the prison where he was detained.

“I welcome the EU’s adoption of sanctions against the people responsible for poisoning Alexei Nalvany with the neurotoxin epibatidine. Sweden is working so that the EU can fully harness the available tools to combat Russia’s oppression. Together with the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and France, we will use all instruments at our disposal to ensure that Russia is held accountable for its actions,” says Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard.

Within the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and other relevant bodies, Sweden is pursuing processes of accountability for Russia’s continued violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention and its continued development and stockpiling of chemical weapons.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and the Russian authorities bear ultimate responsibility for the attacks with the deadly toxins Novichok and epibatidine on Mr Navalny (in 2020 and 2024), and with Novichok on Yulia and Sergei Skripal (in 2018).

In 2020, the EU introduced sanctions against people responsible for the poisoning, detention and politically motivated trial of Mr Navalny. In May 2024, the EU – at Sweden’s initiative – adopted a new sanctions regime due to the repression in Russia. Sweden has been a driving force in the efforts to add new listings within both sanctions regimes.

“The EU must put pressure on Russia for the oppression to cease. To date, 87 people and one entity have been listed under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, while 31 individuals and 6 entities have been listed under the chemical weapons sanctions regime. The EU must also continue doing its utmost to hold Russia’s political leadership and the Russian authorities accountable for these flagrant violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention and of human rights,” says Ms Malmer Stenergard.