Australia sanctions 14 for repression of civil society in Russia
The Australian government has imposed travel prohibitions and sanctions on 14 people for repressing civil society in Russia and for allowing the invasion of Ukraine, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.
“The human rights situation in Russia continues to deteriorate with violent repression aimed at suppressing human rights and anti-war advocacy,” Wong said in a statement.
“We condemn intimidation and reprisals of Russia against defenders of civil society and human rights, and reiterate our call for Russia to comply with its international human rights obligations.”
Wong made this announcement before a meeting with the Russian opposition figure Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, who died while he was in detention in 2024.
“Ms. Navalnaya is an intrepid voice for democracy in Russia, continuing her fight at an immense personal cost,” said Wong.
“Russia has failed to undertake an independent and transparent investigation into the death of Mr. Navalny, and Australia [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin and the Russian government responsible. “”
The 14 newly listed people are current Russian or Russian ministers, or have been judged by the Australian government as having carried out “economic or strategic importance for Russia”.
Wong said they were also responsible for “allowing the illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine”.
Navalny died in a Siberian criminal colony in the Arctic circle in February 2024 when he was serving a 19 -year sentence on what he said is politically motivated accusations. Although the circumstances of his death were not clarified, the Navalny family and allies, as well as some Western leaders, blamed Putin.
Putin’s eminent activist and criticism survived an intoxication attack with the neurotic agent Novichok in 2020, but was arrested upon his return to Russia in January 2021 and submitted to a series of trials.
