EU sanctions 10 Russian judges, prosecutors and officials over opposition crackdown
The European Union sanctioned 10 Russian judicial and prosecution officials, citing their roles in barring the Yabloko party from parliamentary elections and prosecuting opposition politicians.
BRUSSELS, September 28, 2026 — The European Union on Monday imposed sanctions on 10 Russian judges, prosecutors and other officials over what it described as repression of democratic opposition and serious human rights violations in Russia.
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2193 expands the EU restrictive measures imposed in view of the situation in Russia. The Council cited the exclusion of the Yabloko political party from the September 2026 State Duma elections and criminal proceedings against opposition politicians.
The listings include Supreme Court Judge Vyacheslav Kirillov, who the Council said delivered an Aug. 10 ruling barring Yabloko from participating in the parliamentary elections over alleged copyright, extremism and other violations. The EU also listed Supreme Court judges Igor Zinchenko and Denis Tyutin, who were members of a panel that upheld the decision.
Also sanctioned were Central Election Commission official Sergey Sakharov and Prosecutor General's Office official Ilya Rusakov, who the Council said participated in proceedings seeking Yabloko's exclusion.
The EU separately targeted officials involved in prosecutions of Yabloko politicians. Pskov City Court Judge Viktoria Malyamova was listed after sentencing Yabloko politician Lev Shlosberg to 11 years and one month in prison for offenses related to statements about Russia's war against Ukraine. State prosecutor Anna Goryachova, who sought a 12-year-and-one-month sentence for Shlosberg, was also designated.
The Council also sanctioned prosecutor Yulia Guznyaeva and Judge Elina Babayants over the prosecution of Yabloko politician Maxim Kruglov, as well as Judge Elizaveta Truskalenko over proceedings against Yabloko chairman Nikolai Rybakov.
The regulation noted an Aug. 19 statement by U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressing alarm over Yabloko's exclusion and Shlosberg's imprisonment and calling for respect for freedom of expression and participation in electoral processes.
The measures entered into force upon publication in the EU's Official Journal on Sept. 28.
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