President Joe Biden’s fresh round of sanctions against Russia in retaliation for Alexei Navalny’s death appear to be more symbolic than consequential.
The Treasury Department announced more than 500 new sanctions largely against Russia’s financial and military sectors on Friday. The round of sanctions are the most at one time since Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago.
Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s chief critic in Russia, was arrested and imprisoned in a Siberian penile colony in 2021. The prison announced last week that Navalny had died. The announcement drew condemnation from Western leaders and deep suspicions that Navalny’s death was ordered by Putin.
Biden said in 2021 that he warned Putin in the eventuality of Navalny’s death that the repercussions would be “devastating for Russia.” The new round of sanctions is unlikely to have any significant…
