Travel restrictions on Russian diplomats also included in 19th sanctions package
The nineteenth EU sanctions package against Russia also includes travel restrictions for Russian diplomats. From now on, they may only travel to the country where they are stationed without prior permission. If they want to travel to or through another Schengen country, they must notify that Member State in advance. The measure will apply to diplomats, consular officials and members of the administrative and technical staff of Russian embassies.
The current travel options within Schengen left room for hostile intelligence activities by Russian diplomats “which also supported Russian aggression against Ukraine”, an EU diplomat said.
In the nineteenth package, the EU also imposed sanctions on people who allegedly tortured Ukrainian prisoners of war. Among them is a notorious Russian (‘Doctor Evil’) who, according to Brussels, systematically tortures Ukrainian prisoners of war.
It concerns Ilya Sorokin, who an EU diplomat described as “a kind of Dr. Mengele from Russia”. German SS doctor Josef Mengele conducted medical experiments on prisoners in the Auschwitz concentration camp.
The nineteenth package affects the energy sector, the financial sector and trade, including those of countries that continue to do business with Russia. According to an EU diplomat, the decision by EU leaders comes at a time when pressure must be increased on Russia to bring the country to the negotiating table.
It is important that this pressure is also increased by the US and the UK through sanctions, an EU official said. “The packages are not the same, but aim to reduce Russian revenues, especially in the energy field.”