The Council of the European Union on 3 July 2026 imposed restrictive measures on six Russian individuals involved in the development of chemical weapons, specifically epibatidine, the toxin found in samples from Alexei Navalny's body after his death in a Russian penal colony. The listings target scientists and researchers from military-related institutions, including Igor Babkin, head of the Signal Scientific Centre's laboratory, Irina Derevyagina of the State Research Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology (GosNIIOKhT), and Mikhail Gutsalyuk of the Military Academy of Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defence. The sanctions freeze assets and ban travel to the EU for those listed.
This action expands the EU's existing sanctions regime against chemical weapons proliferation and use, which was established on 15 October 2018. The regime now covers a total of 31 individuals and 6 entities. The EU has repeatedly condemned the use of chemical weapons, with the European Council stating on 22 March 2018 that such use is completely unacceptable and constitutes a security threat. The current restrictive measures are in force until 16 October 2026, and the EU can renew or amend the list at any time.
The sanctions directly impact the targeted Russian scientists and their affiliated institutions, restricting their access to EU financial systems and travel. For the EU, the measures reinforce its commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention and signal continued pressure on Russia over the Navalny case. However, the listings may further strain EU-Russia relations and have limited practical effect if the individuals have no assets or travel plans in the EU. The decision also underscores the EU's role in enforcing global chemical weapons norms, though critics may question the effectiveness of targeted sanctions without broader diplomatic engagement.