The European Union imposed sanctions on nine Russians because of the verdict against Vladimir Kara-Murza. He was sentenced to 25 years

The Council of the European Union imposed sanctions on nine Russian citizens in connection with the sentencing of politician and journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison. The decision has been published in the Official Journal of the EU.

The sanctions list includes Deputy Minister of Justice of Russia Oleg Sviridenko, who is responsible for the implementation of legislation on "foreign agents", said the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell.

The list also includes judges and other members of the judiciary, as well as the head of the pre-trial detention center "responsible for the humiliating treatment that led to a significant deterioration in Kara-Murza's health," the EU authorities said in a statement.

Who is sanctioned

The following were sanctioned:

• Oleg Sviridenko, Deputy Minister of Justice of Russia;
• Sergey Podoprigorov, judge;
• Diana Mishchenko, judge;
• Elena Lenskaya, judge;
• Ilya Kozlov, judge;
• Andrei Zadachin, investigator;
• Denis Kolesnikov, investigator;
• Danila Mikheev, director of the Independent Expert company
• Dmitry Komnov, head of SIZO-5 in Moscow.

The European Union has called on Russia to immediately and unconditionally release Vladimir Kara-Murza and "all those imprisoned on politically motivated charges."

• The Moscow City Court in April sentenced Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in prison in a strict regime colony. The court found him guilty under articles on spreading "fakes" about the Russian army, on carrying out the activities of an "undesirable" organization, and on "high treason." Kara-Murza pleaded not guilty. In a special letter, he thanked those who supported him during the process.