Imposing the European Union (EU)’s framework for targeted sanctions will depend on how the Maldives presidential election is conducted, says James Dauris, the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

In an exclusive interview with RaajjeTV, Ambassador Dauris emphasized that the EU’s framework is not aimed at targeting the Maldives, the people of the Maldives, or the country’s economy.

The Ambassador said that the sanctions will target specific people and that there should be no doubt about the details of the framework since it is available for anyone to read online.

He also said that while step one of the process, which is to detail the sanctions to be placed, has been completed, the EU has yet to take the second step, which is to pick out the people who will be sanctioned.

He said that the EU has made it clear that the process is taken seriously and their next move in the process depends on how free and fair the presidential elections on September 23 are.

UK has been closely observing Maldives’ political situation and was the first country to urge the government to implement the Supreme Court order on February 1, which ordered the release of political prisoners and reinstatement of opposition MPs.

UK was also the first country to implement the European Union (EU)’s framework for restrictive sanctions against state institutions and individuals that undermine human rights and obstruct political freedom in Maldives.