Timeline - Sanctions against human rights violations

The Council decided to impose sanctions on seven persons and three entities responsible for serious human rights violations, including human trafficking, torture, and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, in relation to the operation of scam centres in Southeast Asia.

Entities sanctioned include the Prince Holding Group and the Jin Bei Group (both based in Cambodia), as well as the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, a Burmese armed group controlling territory in Myanmar’s Karen State.

• Scam centres in Southeast Asia: EU lists seven persons and three entities responsible for serious human rights violations (press release, 30 July 2026)

The Council decided to impose restrictive measures on 15 individuals and one entity responsible for serious human rights violations against Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees.

Those sanctioned are responsible for torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees in the occupied Ukrainian territories and in Russia, including at penal colony no. 10 (Udarny) and penal colony no. 7 (Pakino).

• Human rights violations against Ukrainian prisoners of war: Council lists 15 individuals and one entity (press release, 13 July 2026)

The Council adopted additional sanctions targeting three extremist Israeli settlers and four organisations which support them.

They are responsible for serious and systematic human rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank, including abuse of the right of everyone to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental integrity, the right to property, the right to private and family life, to freedom of religion or belief and the right to education.

• Extremist Israeli settlers: EU lists four entities and three individuals (press release, 28 May 2026)

The Council decided to prolong and update the list of individuals, entities, and bodies subject to restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses until 8 December 2026.

• EU global human rights sanctions regime: listings prolonged for a year (press release, 4 December 2025)

The EU has imposed sanctions against Vadim Bulgakov and Aleksei Pikin, responsible for torture or for cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in Crimean detention centres. The sanctions are adopted under the global human rights regime. 

• Global human rights sanctions regime: Council imposes sanctions on two individuals over abuses in detention centres in Crimea (press release, 5 September 2025)

The Council imposed sanctions on eight persons and one entity under the EU global human rights sanctions regime.

Today’s listings confirm the EU’s concerns about transnational repression by Iranian state bodies through the use of proxy agents, in particular involving criminals and organised crime networks targeting dissidents and human rights defenders across the world, including on EU territory.

• Iran: Council sanctions eight individuals and one entity over serious human rights violations and transnational repression (press release, 15 July 2025)

The Council imposed sanctions on five individuals responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses in Syria, including supporting the use of chemical weapons under the al-Assad regime, and for their involvement in the recent violence in coastal regions.

• Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime: EU imposes restrictive measures on five Syrian individuals associated with the former Assad regime for supporting crimes against humanity and for fueling sectarian violence (press release, 23 June 2025)

The EU introduced new sanctions targeting two individuals and three entities under the global human rights sanctions regime, in response to the wave of violence that took place in Syria’s coastal region in March 2025.

• Syria: EU adopts legal acts to lift economic sanctions on Syria, enacting recent political agreement (press release, 28 May 2025)

The Council appointed Kajsa Ollongren as EU special representative for human rights.

The new special representative will continue the work of her predecessors to contribute to the implementation of the EU’s policy on human rights, the EU’s positions on promoting compliance with international humanitarian law and support for international criminal justice. 

• Human Rights: EU appoints former Dutch minister as new Special Representative (press release, 23 June 2025)

The Council decided to prolong and update the list of individuals, entities, and bodies subject to restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses until 8 December 2025.

• EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime: listings renewed for an additional year (press release, 2 December 2024)

The Council approved additional sanctions targeting individuals and entities responsible for serious human rights abuses worldwide, including torture and systematic and widespread sexual and gender-based violence. The decision was taken within the EU’s global human rights sanctions regime.

The individuals sanctioned include:

• Abdel Karim Mohammad Ibrahim, chief of staff of the Syrian army, and Ali Mahmoud Abbas, former Minister for Defence of Syria and deputy commander-in-chief of the Syrian army
• Ri Chang Dae, Minister for State Security of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
• Evgeniy Sobolev, the head of the so-called ‘penitentiary service’, installed by Moscow in the temporarily occupied Kherson oblast in Ukraine

• Sexual and gender-based violence: Council lists four individuals and two entities under the EU's global human rights sanctions regime (press release, 22 July 2024)

The EU adopted sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for serious and systematic human rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank, including abuses of the right of everyone to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental integrity, the right to property, the right to private and family life, the right to freedom of religion or belief and the right to education.

The sanctions also target an Israeli group of violent activists blocking supply trucks delivering humanitarian aid, including food, water and fuel, to Gaza.

• Extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as violent activists, blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza: five individuals and three entities sanctioned under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime (press release, 15 July 2024)

The Council decided to impose sanctions on two entities and four individuals, responsible for serious human rights abuses against Palestinians, including torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and for the violation of right to property and to private and family life of Palestinians in the West Bank.

The listed entities are:

• Lehava, a radical right-wing Jewish supremacist group
• Hilltop Youth, a radical youth group consisting of members known for violent acts against Palestinians and their villages in the West Bank

This decision was taken in the context of the EU global human rights sanctions regime.

• Extremist settlers in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem: Council sanctions four individuals and two entities over serious human rights abuses against Palestinians (press release, 19 April 2024)

The Council decided to list three entities in response to the widespread sexual and gender-based violence committed during the brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks that occurred across Israel on 7 October 2023:

• Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the EU-designated terrorist organisation Palestinian Islamic Jihad
• Nukhba Force, a special forces unit of the EU-designated terrorist organisation Hamas
• Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas

This decision was taken in the context of the EU global human rights sanctions regime.

• 7 October 2023 terrorist attacks in Israel: Council sanctions three entities over widespread sexual and gender-based violence (press release, 12 April 2024)

The Council decided to impose restrictive measures against 33 persons and two entities linked to the sudden death in a strict penal colony of the Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny. This decision was taken in the framework of the EU global human rights sanctions regime.

The new listings include the penal colonies where Alexei Navalny was held from June 2022 until his death:

• IK-6 corrective colony
• IK-3 maximum security corrective colony

Both colonies are known for exerting physical and psychological pressure, full isolation, torture and violence on prisoners. The head of IK-3, Vadim Kalinin, and various deputy heads of the colony were also sanctioned.

Furthermore, the Council decided to include members of the judiciary and high-level officials in the penitentiary system and in the Ministry of Justice.

• Death of Alexei Navalny: EU sanctions 33 individuals and two entities under its global human rights sanctions regime (press release, 22 March 2024)

The Council approved restrictive measures against four persons and one entity under the European Union's Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, in view of the continuing deterioration of the human rights situation in Russia.

The new listings include three persons employed in the Russian judicial system responsible for serious human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests and detentions, notably in connection with the case of the opposition politician, democracy activist and outspoken Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza.

The listings also include the Russian para-governmental Safe Internet League which aids the Russian government in enforcing censorship practices, along with Ekaterina Mizulina, the Chairwoman of the Safe Internet League, responsible for serious and systematic abuses of freedom of opinion and expression.

• Global human rights sanctions regime: Council adds four persons and one entity to EU sanctions list (press release, 29 January 2024)

The Council decided to impose restrictive measures on nine individuals and three entities in view of their role in committing serious human rights violations and abuses, particularly sexual and gender-based violence.

This action reaffirms the EU’s determination to promote and protect human rights around the world. The new listings include:

• two acting Taliban ministers for higher education and for the propagation of virtue and the prevention of vice, who are behind the decrees banning women from higher education and gender-segregated practices in public spaces
• officers of the Moscow Police Station responsible for arbitrary arrests and detentions as well as torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in the context of the censorship and oppression led by the Russian authorities. The listings will also target high-ranking members of the Russian armed forces, whose units systematically participated in acts of sexual and gender-based violence in Ukraine in March/April 2022, in the context of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine
• government officials commanding South Sudanese militias responsible for the widespread and systematic use of sexual and gender-based violence as a war tactic in the country
• the deputy minister of home affairs in Myanmar/Burma
• the Qarchak prison in Iran, the Syrian republican guard and the office of the chief of military security affairs in Myanmar/Burma are sanctioned in view of their roles in serious sexual and gender-based human rights violations

The listed individuals and entities will now be subject to an asset freeze in the EU. In addition, listed individuals will be subject to a travel ban to the EU. Moreover, persons and entities in the EU will be prohibited from making funds available, either directly or indirectly, to those listed.

• Violence against women and girls: EU sanctions nine individuals and three entities under its Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime (press release, 7 March 2023)

The Council decided to impose additional restrictive measures against individuals and entities linked to the Wagner Group in view of the international dimension and gravity of the group’s activities, as well as its destabilising impact on the countries where it is active.

The Wagner Group is a Russia-based unincorporated private military entity, present in several countries, including:

• Ukraine
• Libya
• the Central African Republic (CAR)
• Mali
• Sudan

In particular, the Council decided to list eight individuals and seven entities under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime responsible for or involved in serious human rights abuses in the Central African Republic and Sudan as well as one individual under the Mali sanctions regime responsible for actions threatening the peace, security, or stability of Mali.

Two individuals were also listed in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

• Wagner Group: Council adds 11 individuals and 7 entities to EU sanctions lists (press release, 25 February 2023)

The Council decided to add 32 individuals and 2 entities to the list of those subject to restrictive measures in the context of the existing Iran human rights sanctions regime.

Among the persons listed are the:

• Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance and Minister of Education
• deputy commander and spokesperson of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
• co-founders of EU-listed Ravin Academy
• members of the Iranian parliament supporting the violent crackdown
• members of the police, judiciary in various parts of the country, and prison wardens and directors

These designations also target the Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) Cooperation Foundation and the Police Science and Social Studies Institute.

• Iran: EU adopts additional sanctions against perpetrators of serious human rights violations (press release, 20 February 2023)

Two years after the military coup staged in Myanmar/Burma on 1st February 2021, the Council adopted restrictive measures against 9 persons and 7 entities in view of the:

• continuing escalation of violence
• grave human rights violations
• threats to the peace, security and stability in Myanmar/Burma

• Myanmar/Burma: EU imposes sixth round of sanctions against 9 individuals and 7 entities (press release, 20 February 2023)

The Council decided to add 18 individuals and 19 entities to the list of those subject to restrictive measures in the context of the existing Iran human rights sanctions regime.

This is in view of their role in the widespread and disproportionate use of force against non-violent protestors following the death of Mahsa Amini.

Among the persons enlisted are:

• representatives of the government and the Iranian parliament (Majles)
• important political and media figures
• high-ranking members of the Iranian security forces, including of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)

• Iran: EU adopts further restrictive measures against human rights violations (press release, 23 January 2023)

The Council added 20 individuals and one entity to the list of those subject to restrictive measures in the context of the existing Iran human rights sanctions regime.

This is in view of the role of these individuals in the death of Mahsa Amini and the violent response to the unacceptable repression of the ongoing protests in Iran.

• Iran: EU adopts Council conclusions and additional restrictive measures for human rights violations (press release, 12 December 2022)
• Iran: EU restrictive measures (background information)

The Council added an additional 29 individuals and a further three entities to the list of those subject to restrictive measures in the context of the existing Iran human rights sanctions regime. The list of those subject to EU restrictive measures in the context of the existing Iran human rights sanctions regime now comprises a total of 126 individuals and 11 entities.

• Iran: EU adopts additional sanctions against perpetrators of serious human rights violations (press release, 14 November 2022)
• Iran: EU restrictive measures (background information)

The Council added eleven individuals and four entities to the list of those subject to restrictive measures in the context of the existing Iran human rights sanctions regime. This is in view of their role in the death of Mahsa Amini and the violent response to the recent demonstrations in Iran.

• Iran: EU sanctions perpetrators of serious human rights violations (press release, 17 October 2022)
• Iran: EU restrictive measures (background information)

Women and men across Iran have exercised their fundamental right to assemble and protest, following the death of Mahsa Amini. Concern has been raised that the response of the Iranian security and police forces has been disproportionate and resulted in the loss of lives as well as a large number of injuries.

For the European Union and its member states, the widespread and disproportionate use of force against nonviolent protestors is unjustifiable and unacceptable. People in Iran, as anywhere else, have the right to peaceful protest. That right must be ensured in all circumstances.

The decision to severely restrict internet access by the relevant Iranian authorities and to block instant messaging platforms blatantly violates freedom of expression.

• Iran: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU (press release, 25 September 2022)

The Council adopted a decision and a regulation establishing a global human rights sanctions regime.

The EU is equipping itself with a framework that will allow it to target those responsible for, involved in or associated with serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide, no matter where they occurred and be they:

• individuals
• entities
• bodies

Such restrictive measures will provide for a travel ban applying to individuals, and the freezing of funds applying to both individuals and entities.

In addition, persons and entities in the EU will be forbidden from making funds available to those listed, either directly or indirectly.

• EU adopts a global human rights sanctions regime (press release, 7 December 2020)