Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1708 of 13 July 2026 implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1485 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Russia

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2024/1485 of 27 May 2024 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Russia (1), and in particular Article 17(1) thereof,

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

Whereas:

(1) On 27 May 2024, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2024/1485.

(2) On 15 September 2025, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, who was appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council, published a report entitled ‘Situation of human rights in the Russian Federation’. The report underlined that the Russian authorities were continuing to use new technologies to restrict freedom of expression, access to information and freedom of association.

(3) On 16 March 2026, the Deputy Permanent Representative of the European Union to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva delivered a statement on behalf of the Union in the framework of the 61st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The statement condemned in the strongest possible terms Russia’s continuing violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in Ukraine, such as summary executions of prisoners of war and civilian detainees, arbitrary detention, systematic and widespread use of torture and other forms of ill-treatment, including rape and other conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence.

(4) The Union remains unwavering in its condemnation of the human rights violations and repressions in Russia.

(5) In view of the gravity of the situation, the Council considers that 11 natural persons and 5 entities should be added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies set out in Annex IV to Regulation (EU) 2024/1485.

(6) Regulation (EU) 2024/1485 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Annex IV to Regulation (EU) 2024/1485 is amended in accordance with 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, 13 July 2026.

For the Council The President K. KALLAS

(1) OJ L, 2024/1485, 27.5.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1485/oj.