The European Union on Monday 22 December imposed sanctions on two senior members of Russia’s judiciary, for allegedly playing a direct role in politically motivated prosecutions and the suppression of dissent.
Added to the sanctions list were Moscow City Court judge Dmitry Gordeev and prosecutor Lyudmila Balandina. In its press release, the Council cited serious human rights violations and actions that undermine the rule of law in Russia.
According to EU officials, the judge had allegedly repeatedly handed down rulings against opposition figures and human rights defenders while disregarding basic standards of judicial independence. The Council said Gordeev routinely dismissed exculpatory evidence and relied on unverified police reports, raising concerns about bias and conflicts of interest.
Concerns over judicial conduct
The EU sanctioned state prosecutor Ms. Balandina for leading several high-profile cases against Kremlin critics and individuals expressing support for Ukraine. The EU said she abused her prosecutorial powers to bring politically driven charges, used rhetoric aligned with state propaganda, and sought harsh sentences for peaceful expression.
Both officials are now subject to an EU-wide asset freeze, a ban on receiving funds from EU citizens or companies, and travel restrictions preventing them from entering or transiting through the bloc.
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The move is part of a broader EU effort to hold individuals accountable for the accelerating repression of civil society and democratic opposition under President Vladimir Putin, particularly since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions were adopted under a new framework launched in March 2024. EU officials said the bloc remained deeply concerned about the worsening human rights situation in Russia, particularly in the context of the war against Ukraine.
