Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1716 of 8 September 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses

Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1716 of 8 September 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof, Having regard to Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 of 7 December 2020 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses OJ L 410 I, 7.12.2020, p. 13. , and in particular Article 5(1) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Whereas: (1) On 7 December 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999. (2) On 8 December 2020, in the Declaration by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on behalf of the European Union, regarding the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, the Union and its Member States reaffirmed their strong commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime underscores the Union’s determination to enhance its role in addressing serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide. Achieving the effective enjoyment of human rights by everyone is a strategic goal of the Union. Respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights is a fundamental value of the Union and its common foreign and security policy. (3) The Union does not recognise the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation, and continues to condemn it as a violation of international law. The Union remains steadfast in its commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and is dedicated to fully implementing its non-recognition policy. (4) The Union is concerned about the continuing deterioration of the human rights situation in the Crimean peninsula, notably in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. (5) In that context, six persons should be included in the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999. (6) Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 should therefore be amended accordingly, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Done at Brussels, 8 September 2023. For the Council The President P. Navarro Ríos

Annex

ANNEX The following entries are added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies set out in section A (Natural persons) in the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999: Names (Transliteration into Latin script)NamesIdentifying informationReasons for listingDate of listing63.Elena Victorovna PODOLNAYA Елена Викторовна ПОДОЛЬНАЯ

(Russian spelling) Position(s): Russian Prosecutor; Deputy Prosecutor at the Simferopol District Court in the Republic of Crimea DOB: 5.9.1978 Gender: female Tax ID number: 261803847664 Elena Podolnaya is the Deputy Prosecutor at the Simferopol District Court in the Republic of Crimea established by Russia’s occupying force in the illegally annexed Crimea. In that position, Elena Podolnaya took part in the politically motivated court proceedings against Vladyslav Yesypenko, a journalist, and proposed an 11-year prison sentence for him. Vladyslav Yesypenko was sentenced to 6 years in prison. The court proceedings against Vladyslav Yesypenko targeted his activism and served as a show trial in Russia to suppress voices critical of the ruling regime in voicing opposition to the war of aggression against Ukraine. The Russian regime is using the judiciary of the country as a widespread tool in numerous serious human rights violations. The justice system is not independent and is used to systematically and severely violate the human rights of individuals opposed to the ruling regime by violating their freedom of opinion and expression. Therefore, she is responsible for serious human rights violations in the Russian Federation and in the territories occupied by it, including violations of freedom of opinion and expression. 8.9.202364.Denis Vladimirovich KOROVIN Денис Владимирович КОРОВИН (Russian spelling) Position(s): Officer of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) Gender: male Denis Korovin is an officer of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB). In his position, he took part in torturing Vladyslav Yesypenko, a journalist, who was sentenced to 6 years in prison. The court proceedings against Vladyslav Yesypenko targeted his activism and served as a show trial in Russia to suppress voices critical of the ruling regime in voicing opposition to the war of aggression against Ukraine. The Russian regime is using the judiciary of the country as a widespread tool in numerous serious human rights violations. The justice system is not independent and is used to systematically and severely violate the human rights of individuals opposed to the ruling regime by violating their freedom of opinion and expression. Therefore, he is responsible for serious human rights violations in the Russian Federation and in the territories occupied by it, including torture, inhuman and degrading treatment and violations of freedom of opinion and expression. 8.9.2023 65.Dliaver Memetovich BERBEROV Длявер Меметович БЕРБЕРОВ (Russian spelling) Position(s): Judge at the Simferopol District Court of the Republic of Crimea DOB: 17.8.1978 POB: Uzbekistan Gender: male Dliaver Berberov is a judge at the Simferopol District Court in the Republic of Crimea established by Russia’s occupying force in the illegally annexed Crimea. In that position, he took part in the politically motivated court proceedings against Vladyslav Yesypenko, a journalist.

On 16 February 2021, Dliaver Berberov announced the verdict of Vladyslav Yesypenko’s case and sentenced him to 6 years in prison. 8.9.2023 Address: 6 Turkenicha St., Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine АР Крим, г. Симферополь, ул. Туркенича 6 DRFO code: 2871801456 The court proceedings against Vladyslav Yesypenko targeted his activism and served as a show trial in Russia to suppress voices critical of the ruling regime in voicing opposition to the war of aggression against Ukraine. The Russian regime is using the judiciary of the country as a widespread tool in numerous serious human rights violations. The justice system is not independent and is used to systematically and severely violate the human rights of individuals opposed to the ruling regime by violating their freedom of opinion and expression. Therefore, he is responsible for serious human rights violations in the Russian Federation and in the territories occupied by it, including violations of freedom of opinion and expression. 66.Vitaliy Olegovich VLASOV Виталий Олегович ВЛАСОВ (Russian spelling) Position(s): Investigator at the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) DOB: 7.5.1986 POB: Shimanovsk/Amur Oblast/Russian Federation Nationality: Russian Gender: male Vitaliy Vlasov is an investigator at the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB). In that position, he conducted the investigations in the cases of journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko, of members of the Crimean Tatar community in Crimea, including Nariman Dzhelyalov, as well as of members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, including Aleksandr Dubovenko and Aleksandr Litvinyuk. In that context, Vlasov has been involved in the systematic persecution campaigns targeting the Crimean Tatar community and members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses for their religious beliefs. Therefore, he is responsible for serious human rights violations in the Russian Federation and in the territories occupied by it, including torture, inhuman and degrading treatment, arbitrary arrest and detention, and violations of freedom of opinion and expression. 8.9.2023 67.Viktor Viktorovich KRAPKO Виктор Викторович КРАПКО (Russian spelling) Position(s): Judge of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Crimea; Former Judge at the Kiev District Court of Simferopol DOB: 22.1.1989 Nationality: Russian Gender: male Viktor Krapko is a judge at the Supreme Court of the Republic of Crimea established by Russia’s occupying force in the illegally annexed Crimea. In that position, he took part in the politically motivated court proceedings against Vladyslav Yesypenko, a journalist, and Nariman Dzhelyalov, a Crimean Tatar. Krapko is also responsible for authorising searches in the homes of members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2021 in Russian-occupied Crimea. The Russian regime is using the judiciary of the country as a widespread tool in numerous serious human rights violations. The justice system is not independent and is used to systematically and severely violate the human rights of individuals opposed to the ruling regime by violating their freedom of opinion and expression.

In that context, Krapko has been involved in the systematic persecution campaigns targeting the Crimean Tatar community and members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses for their religious beliefs. Therefore, he is responsible for serious human rights violations in the Russian Federation and the territories occupied by it, including violations of freedom of opinion and expression. 8.9.202368.Anastasia Ivanovna SUPRYAGA Анастасия Ивановна СУПРЯГА (Russian spelling) Position(s): Prosecutor in the Prosecutor’s Office of Crimea DOB: 15.3.1983 POB: Vinohradove, Saksky district, Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Ukraine Nationality: Russian Gender: female Anastasia Supryaga is a prosecutor of the Prosecutor’s Office of Crimea established by Russia’s occupying force in the illegally annexed Crimea. In that position, she took part in the politically motivated court proceedings and the prosecution of Akhtem Chiygoz, deputy Chair of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people and of members of the Crimean Tatar community, including Nariman Dzhelyalov. In that context, Supryaga has been involved in the systematic persecution campaigns targeting the Crimean Tatar community and members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses for their religious beliefs. Therefore, she is responsible for serious human rights violations in the Russian Federation and the territories occupied by it, including arbitrary arrests or detentions. 8.9.2023