Canada imposes new sanctions against Russia: details
On Human Rights Day, Canada is intensifying pressure on Russia by imposing sanctions against officials and personnel involved in the torture of Ukrainian citizens and prisoners of war.
Photo: President Of Ukraine, CC0 1.0
Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly announced new sanctions targeting individuals responsible for gross human rights violations during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the occupation of Crimea, as reported by Canada's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The sanctions are directed at employees of the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN), Federal Security Service (FSB), and National Guard of Russia (Rosgvardia), as well as their accomplices.
These individuals are accused of systematically using torture and other cruel treatment methods on Ukrainian citizens, including prisoners of war and activists. Documented cases confirm their involvement in torture and the deaths of detainees in several correctional facilities.
Canada's decision coincided with Human Rights Day. According to Joly, these sanctions demonstrate Canada's firm stance in defending Ukraine's sovereignty and condemning Russian aggression.
Canada actively supports Ukraine not only politically but also financially, humanitarily, and militarily. Since the full-scale invasion in 2022, Canada has provided more than $19.7 billion in aid and supports initiatives to free illegally detained Ukrainians.
These sanctions are part of international efforts to hold Russian authorities and their accomplices accountable for widespread human rights violations and aggression against Ukraine.
Additionally, Canada has decided to impose new sanctions against Russian authorities and their local collaborators. Eight individuals involved in severe and systematic human rights violations in Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories are now under sanctions. The measures include asset freezes and a ban on any financial transactions with these individuals.
The sanctioned individuals include Kirill Popov, Yuri Doroshenko, Dmitry Laikov, and others. These measures also render them inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
The Canadian government explains its actions as a necessary step to counter human rights violations and uphold international norms.
Earlier, it was reported that Canada tightened sanctions against Belarus, adding the youngest son of Alexander Lukashenko and several key state companies to the list, aligning the measures with the anniversary of the 2020 elections.
It was also revealed that Canada and 70 other countries have agreed at a conference on joint measures to support Ukraine in recovering prisoners and deported citizens.