Spox says EU mulling new sanctions against Russia confidentially

BRUSSELS, Feb 12 (PRIME) -- Europe is confidentially considering new sanctions against Russia in the wake of a court decision to imprison opposition politician Alexei Navalny, spokesman for the foreign policies authority of the E.U. Peter Stano said Friday.

"Concerning new possible sanctions, I can only add that work continues. But the process of preparation, discussion and adoption of (the blacklist) is confidential and we will keep on providing no comment on it," Stano said.

The official added that adoption of new sanctions would require agreement from all E.U. member states.

Several countries have already suggested their sanctions lists of politicians, businessmen and reporters, but according to Josep Borrell, high representative of the European Union, none were approved.

Borrel said the E.U. foreign ministers will consider new sanctions against Russia over the situation with human rights in the country on February 22. He said that the E.U. may adopt sactions in the framework of global sanctions for violation of human rights that were approved at the end of last year and were never applied.

The new regime is imposed for violation of fundamental freedoms and human rights, including freedom of conscience, the right to peaceful assembly, as well as for genocide, torture, human trafficking, and sexual violence.

It includes freezes of assets and economic resources on the E.U. territory of to the people and organizations responsible for serious human rights violation. The E.U. states should adopt measures to prohibit entrance and transit through their territories of the people on the list.

Navalny was detained in the airport on January 17, when he returned from Germany after treatment for poisoning. In early February, court replaced his suspended sentence with a real one in a 2014 case of embezzlement from Yves Rocher, triggering mass protests.

The E.U. criticizes the court decision and detention of people during the mass protests.

Russia has warned the union against new sanctions and promised to reciprocate, if they are introduced.

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