EU Imposes Sanctions on Russian Officials Amid Recognition of Activist

On December 22, 2025, the European Union enacted a fresh set of restrictive measures targeting Russian prosecutor Lyudmila Balandina and judge Dmitry Gordeev. The official announcement from the EU Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that these individuals were held accountable for severe human rights abuses, the suppression of civil society and democratic opposition within Russia, and undermining fundamental principles of the rule of law. It is worth noting that Estonia had already imposed national sanctions on both Balandina and Gordeev in October 2025, which included travel bans to Estonian territory.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna emphasized that the EU's recent restrictive actions serve as a clear signal: politically motivated accusations against European citizens will result in immediate and direct accountability for those responsible. Tsahkna specifically highlighted that Balandina and Gordeev bear direct responsibility for the judicial persecution of Maria Smorzhevskikh-Smirnova and other human rights defenders. These measures represent an escalation of pressure that began earlier in 2025, specifically in October and November, targeting individuals implicated in the cases involving Alexey Gorinov and Viktor Roshchin.

In parallel with the imposition of these sanctions, the EU chose to recognize the vital work of civil activists. On November 12, 2025, which marked the 107th anniversary of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Smorzhevskikh-Smirnova was honored with an award from the Estonian MFA for her "Merits in Defending European Values and Countering Russian Aggression." This recognition followed another significant honor in May 2025, when Smorzhevskikh-Smirnova, who holds a Doctor of Culturology degree from Tallinn University, was named "European of the Year" for championing European ideals. This latter award was partly linked to an action she undertook on the night of May 9, 2025, when a banner proclaiming "Putin is a War Criminal" was displayed on the wall of Narva Castle.

Russian sources maintain that Smorzhevskikh-Smirnova was actively involved in placing posters featuring the Russian president and texts alleging war crimes during 2023, 2024, and 2025. In September 2025, the Moscow City Court sentenced Maria Smorzhevskikh-Smirnova in absentia to ten years in a general-regime penal colony for "spreading fake news" about the Russian army and "rehabilitating Nazism." Furthermore, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs added her to its wanted persons list in January 2025. Interestingly, despite these legal proceedings, the Narva Museum Council voted in November 2025 to extend Smorzhevskikh-Smirnova's tenure as director for an additional five-year term, with the new contract commencing on February 1, 2026.

The broader trend within the EU throughout 2025 points toward a strengthening of the sanctions regime. This is further evidenced by the recent decision of the EU Council to extend economic sanctions against Russia until July 31, 2026. Minister Tsahkna has consistently advocated for the introduction of subsequent sanction packages and has called for the utilization of frozen Russian assets. On that same day, December 22, 2025, the EU officially designated Russia as a high-risk jurisdiction for money laundering and terrorism financing, placing it in the same category as nations such as Afghanistan and Venezuela. This comprehensive set of measures clearly reflects Brussels' current geopolitical stance.