America News Agency

The Council of the European Union has adopted a new sanctions package against six Russian nationals, citing their alleged involvement in the development of chemical weapons linked to the poisoning and death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

According to the Council's statement, samples taken following Navalny's death in a Russian penal colony revealed the presence of the toxic substance epibatidine, indicating that the most likely cause of death was poisoning with that substance.

The statement said the individuals added to the sanctions list are scientists and researchers who participated in activities related to the development of chemical weapons.

Those sanctioned include Igor Babkin, head of the laboratory at the Signal Scientific Center (SC Signal), as well as researchers at the center who conducted work on the synthesis of epibatidine and prepared scientific publications on the subject.

Also added to the sanctions list were Irina Derevyagina, a chemical research analyst at the Russian State Research Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology (GosNIIOKhT), and Mikhail Gutsalyuk, head of the department responsible for organizing scientific activities at the Military Academy of Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense.

With this decision, the number of individuals sanctioned by the EU under its restrictive measures against the use and proliferation of chemical weapons has risen to 31, while the number of sanctioned entities has increased to six.

The assets of those listed under the sanctions within the European Union will be frozen. They will also be prohibited from receiving funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly. In addition, they will be subject to a travel ban preventing entry into European Union member states.

In its statement, the Council of the European Union stressed that the EU will continue its efforts to combat the proliferation and use of chemical weapons and reaffirmed its commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which prohibits the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and requires their destruction.