EU imposes new sanctions on Russian surveillance firms and prison chiefs
Photo: Logo of Russia's state-backed Max messaging app (Getty Images)
The European Union's latest sanctions target not only Russian technology companies but also officials who run a prison colony where Ukrainian prisoners were tortured, according to a document published on the European Union's official website.
The new sanctions cover 11 Russian nationals and five companies, including Russian IT firms, developers of surveillance systems used by the Federal Security Service (FSB), and the management of a prison colony where Ukrainian prisoners of war were allegedly tortured.
Among those sanctioned are the leaders of Penal Colony No. 10 in Russia's Mordovia region, where hundreds of Ukrainian POWs and civilians were held.
According to the EU document, former detainees reported beatings, electric shocks, sexual violence, mock executions, and denial of medical care.
Russian technology company VK has also been added to the sanctions list.
The EU also imposed sanctions on Communication Platform LLC, the company operating Russia's state-backed Max messaging app. According to the bloc, the app includes features that enable user surveillance.
In addition, the sanctions target VAS Experts, Norsi-Trans, and Citadel, companies that develop Russia's SORM surveillance system. The system gives the FSB access to users' phone calls, messages, geolocation data, and internet traffic.
The EU decision entered into force on July 13 following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Meanwhile, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, once again avoided EU sanctions despite repeated calls for restrictions. This time, according to the report, Bulgaria's position prevented his inclusion in the latest sanctions package.
