Russia: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the latest developments in case of Alexei Navalny and other political prisoners

 

Press material Wednesday 17 January 2024

● Council of the EU   17/01/2024 12:13 | Press release | Russia: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the latest developments in case of Alexei Navalny and other political prisoners   Today marks three years since Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny returned to Russia. He was arbitrarily arrested, prosecuted and sentenced following his return from Germany, where he was receiving medical treatment after an assassination attempt on him in Russia. Mr Navalny was poisoned with a toxic nerve agent of the “Novichok” group banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention, to which the Russian Federation is a State Party. Ever since, the European Union has closely followed the developments in his case. The EU has repeatedly condemned in the strongest possible terms all politically motivated rulings against him for actions which constitute legitimate political and anti-corruption activities. Mr Navalny continues to serve politically motivated sentences amounting to more than 30 years. He endures persistent ill-treatment with great risks to his life and grave violation of his human rights. Last year, he was moved to one of the most remote penal colonies in the Yamalo-Nenets region in Siberia in an attempt to isolate him from the rest of the world. This is a stark indication that the Russian legal system continues to be instrumentalised against Mr Navalny and of how much Russian authorities are afraid of him, also in the context of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and the Russian Presidential elections in March. The EU deplores that three lawyers defending Mr Navalny were added to Russia’s list of “terrorists and extremists” on politically motivated charges in November 2023. Lawyers have a fundamental role in upholding the rule of law and the human rights of defendants. The lawyers remain in pre-trial detention facing up to six years imprisonment. The EU reiterates its call for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr Navalny and all political prisoners in Russia, including Yuri Dmitriev, Vladimir Kara-Murza, Ilya Yashin, Alexei Gorinov, Lilia Chanysheva, Ksenia Fadeeva and Ivan Safronov. It remains extremely concerned about the health conditions of Alexei Navalny, Vladimir Kara-Murza, Alexandra Skochilenko, Igor Baryshnikov and Alexei Gorinov, critically aggravated by prison conditions, ill-treatment and lack of access to adequate medical care. Russia’s political leadership are responsible for the safety, health and well-being of Mr Navalny and other prisoners and they will be held accountable. The EU recalls that the prohibition of torture is absolute under international law. The EU reiterates its call on Russia to comply with the interim measure of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) requiring the immediate release of Mr Navalny from prison. The EU recalls that Russia remains bound to fully implement the ECtHR judgements related to human rights violations that have occurred before 16 September 2022, when Russia ceased to be a Party to the European Convention on Human Rights. Russia also remains bound by the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and its other obligations under international human rights law.