The Biden administration has issued sanctions against Russia over the August 2020 poisoning of Kremlin critic and opposition leader Alexey Navalny, as well as his subsequent arrest and sentencing. 
The sanctions will reportedly be placed on seven senior Russian officials, as well as 14 entities within Russia's chemical and biological sector, in addition to various visa and export restrictions.
Novichok, a chemical nerve agent, was discovered in Navalny's system when arrived at a German hospital for treatment after falling ill on a domestic Russian flight.
U.S. officials announced the intelligence community's conclusion with 'high confidence' that Russian FSB agents were responsible for the attack. However, Russia has remained steadfast against any involvement in Navalny's poisoning.
The use of Novichok was found to be in violation of the international Chemical Weapons Convention. After returning to Russia in February 2021, Navalny was arrested and sentenced to more than 2 years in jail.
The Russian government has received widespread international criticism for Navalny's charges, with many calling them a trumped-up political hit job.
The U.S. now joins the UK and the EU, which had already placed sanctions on Russia over the poisoning of Navalny back in 2020.
The U.S. now joins the UK and the EU, which had already placed sanctions on Russia over the poisoning of Navalny back in 2020.
The Biden admin's decision is being seen as a clear break from its predecessor's policy with regard to the Kremlin, as former President Donald Trump had a notoriously friendly relationship toward Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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