The Council decided today to impose restrictive measures on four individuals and five entities responsible for serious human rights violations in Russia, notably the repression of civil society and democratic opposition, and for undermining democracy and the rule of law.

Axar.az reports, citing European Council, that today’s listings focus in particular on Russia’s continued use of new technologies to restrict freedom of expression, access to information and freedom of association.

The listings agreed today include VK Company – also known as VKontakte – and its daughter company Communication Platform, responsible for developing and managing the phone application Max App, under supervision by the FSB. The app comes pre-installed on all mobile devices sold in Russia and includes extensive surveillance features, later used for repressive actions against users criticising Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine or posting other content banned by authorities.

The EU is also imposing restrictive measures on Citadel, VAS Experts and Norsi-Trans, companies which manufacture, develop, and sell hardware and software related to so called System of Operative Investigative Measures (SORM) – a surveillance system used to control Internet and mobile communications in Russia, namely to monitor phone calls, emails, text messages, and social networks, and to target journalists, opposition figures, minority groups and ordinary citizens.

The four sanctioned individuals hold leadership positions in these companies and are therefore responsible for supporting serious abuses of human rights and for repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Russia.

There are now total 98 individuals and seven entities listed under this regime. All listed persons are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. Individuals are also subject to a travel ban, which prevents them from entering or transiting through EU territories.