The European Union on Monday broadened sanctions against Russia to include individuals and entities responsible for cybercrime and human rights violations, naming popular social media app VKontakte among them. VKontakte and its daughter company Communication Platform LLC were added to the list for their role in developing and managing the MaxApp for Russian smartphones, under the supervision of the FSB security agency. The app is pre-installed on all mobile devices sold in Russia. EU countries said MaxApp was used for repression of critics of Russia's war against Ukraine and of people who posted other content banned by authorities, Reuters reported. Restrictive measures were also imposed on Citadel, VAS Experts and Norsi-Trans - companies that manufacture, develop, and sell hardware and software related to a surveillance system that monitors phone calls, emails, text messages, and social networks. The EU said this network targets journalists, opposition figures, minority groups, and ordinary citizens. The EU also imposed sanctions on officers from Russia's military intelligence service GRU, cybercriminals and companies that it said were active in Russia's efforts to destabilise Europe. It also accused the FSB of controlling "a variety of cyber threat groups". He warned that any direct engagement with the Houthi group on this issue would undermine UN Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolutions 2140 and 2216, and grant the de facto authorities powers that are not recognized under international law. The Yemeni president also told the Chinese and Russian officials that any further Iranian flights to Sanaa conducted without the approval of the internationally recognized government would constitute a dangerous escalation and a new test of the international community's commitment to upholding the principles on which the international system has been based since the founding of the United Nations. Messages to Beijing and Moscow During his meeting with the chargé d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy, Al-Alimi reaffirmed Yemen's appreciation for its historic relationship with Beijing. He praised China's role in supporting development and stability and expressed hope for strengthening bilateral relations in ways that serve the interests of both countries. He also commended China's position of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states and rejecting interference in their internal affairs. He expressed hope that this principle would be reflected in China's position on the Yemeni issue, describing it as a practical test of respect for state sovereignty.
