The European Union has imposed sanctions on two additional Russian officials over serious human rights violations, targeting members of the judiciary accused of enabling

political repression and undermining the rule of law.

In a decision adopted by the Council, restrictive measures were placed on Dmitry Gordeev, a judge at the Moscow City Court, and Lyudmila Balandina, a Russian state prosecutor. Both are accused of playing key roles in the repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Russia.

According to the Council, Gordeev has repeatedly handed down politically motivated rulings against opposition figures and human rights defenders. He is accused of systematically disregarding basic standards of judicial impartiality, including refusing to consider exculpatory evidence and relying on unverified or duplicated police reports prepared by former colleagues. The EU says these practices point to bias, conflicts of interest and a lack of judicial independence.

Balandina, meanwhile, is cited for her involvement in several high-profile prosecutions marked by serious human rights violations. The Council said she has consistently abused her position to pursue politically motivated charges against individuals critical of the Russian authorities or supportive of Ukraine. Prosecutors allege she has employed ideological language aligned with Kremlin narratives and sought disproportionately harsh sentences for peaceful acts of expression.

The EU says the actions of the two officials have contributed to the silencing of dissent, the repression of civil society and efforts to legitimise state narratives that portray criticism of the Russian government or support for Ukraine as extremism or terrorism.

Under the sanctions regime, both individuals are subject to an asset freeze, and EU citizens and companies are prohibited from making funds available to them. They are also banned from entering or transiting through EU territory.

The Council reiterated that the EU remains steadfast in condemning human rights violations and political repression in Russia, expressing particular concern over the continued deterioration of human rights amid Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Photo by Illustrated by Engravings on Wood, Wikimedia commons.