Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/371 of 2 March 2021 implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 of 7 December 2020 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses (1), and in particular Article 14(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

(1) On 7 December 2020, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2020/1998.

(2) On 18 January 2021, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued a declaration on behalf of the Union, condemning the detention of the Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny upon his return to Moscow on 17 January 2021 and calling for his immediate release.

(3) On 22 February 2021, the Foreign Affairs Council agreed to proceed with work on future restrictive measures in response to serious human rights violations.

(4) In this context, and given the continuity and seriousness of the human rights violations in Russia, four persons should be included in the list of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2020/1998.

(5) Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 is amended as set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 2 March 2021.

For the Council The President A. P. ZACARIAS

(1) OJ L 410 I, 7.12.2020, p. 1.