Volodymyr Zelenskyy has enacted NSDC sanctions against russian judges for their sentences handed down to prisoners of war and civil society activists

Specifically, this involves imposing restrictions on russian judges and extending sanctions against russian companies whose sanctions are due to expire.

“The sanctions package includes 41 judges, 38 of whom are russian citizens, and three others are collaborators. They handed down unlawful prison sentences to prisoners of war and support and justify russian aggression against Ukraine,” the Office of the President stated.

Among others, a russian judge has been sanctioned for handing down sentences to nine Ukrainian prisoners of war on terrorism charges over the course of a week. In addition, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on “former Ukrainians who, in the temporarily occupied Donetsk, sentenced volunteers to death: two Britons and one Moroccan who were defending Ukraine as part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and were taken prisoner by the russians”.

The decision also applies to judges who handed down unlawful rulings against public figures, activists and journalists for their political and religious beliefs, the Office of the President adds.

“Sanctions against so-called ‘judges’ who churn out politically motivated verdicts against our citizens and soldiers are a matter of justice. It is particularly shameful to see among them former Ukrainians who knowingly became collaborators and turned the court into an instrument of repression,” reads a comment by Vladislav Vlasyuk, the President’s Representative on Sanctions Policy.

In addition, Zelenskyy extended the sanctions, which were due to expire, against 11 russian companies. The first sanctions against them were imposed in 2021 and 2023. During this time, three companies from that list have been completely liquidated.

This package includes: a company engaged in the repair and maintenance of aviation equipment, in particular Ka and Mi-type helicopters; a company specialising in the development and manufacture of drones; and companies operating illegally in the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula that were involved in the construction of the Crimean Bridge.

Zelenskyy’s office adds that Ukraine will share the relevant information with its partners for further coordination within their jurisdictions.

Source: Radio Liberty