Alexei Navalny: MEPs strongly protest unjust prison sentence
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23. März 2022 In Aktuell, EN

Alexei Navalny: MEPs strongly protest unjust prison sentence

Statement by leading MEPs on the sentencing of Alexei Navalny to nine years in prison.

„We strongly regret today’s decision by Moscow’s Lefortovski Court to sentence Alexei Navalny to nine years in a maximum security prison and to issue him a EUR 10.000 administrative fine. Mr Navalny has already unjustly served 2,5 years in prison and is currently detained in a penal colony east of Moscow, where his basic rights have been repeatedly violated.

Today’s judgment clearly contravenes international law and the Russian Constitution and is as unlawful, arbitrary and politically motivated as the previous judgment in the “Yves Rocher” case. Moreover, today’s verdict demonstrates once again that the Russian regime is waging fear among opposition leaders, activists and civil society.

Therefore, we reiterate our call on the Russian government to immediately and unconditionally release Mr Navalny, as well as the hundreds of other Russian citizens groundlessly detained only for having the braveness to demonstrate in favour of peace or for stepping-up for their rights, including the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

As Mr Navalny suggested, the best support for him and other political prisoners is not sympathy and kind words, but actions against President Vladimir Putin’s regime. Consequently, we call on the EU to support the brave Russian citizens who have the courage to stand for peace and a free and democratic Russia and urge it to adopt immediate sanctions against all Russian officials involved in this new case of misjustice.“

The statement is co-signed by:

Mr David McAllister (EPP, Germany), Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, tel. +32 2 284 51 30, e-mail: david.mcallister@ep.europa.eu;

Mr Ryszard Czarnecki (ECR, Poland), Chair of the European Parliament’s delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, tel. +32 2 284 54 41, e-mail:ryszard.czarnecki@ep.europa.eu;

Mr Andrius Kubilius (EPP, Lithuania), the European Parliament’s standing rapporteur on Russia, tel. +32 2 284 57 35, e-mail: andrius.kubilius@ep.europa.eu;

Ms Maria Arena (S&D, Belgium), Chair of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights, tel. +32 2 284 56 90, e-mail: maria.arena@europarl.europa.eu.

Source: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220322IPR26000/alexei-navalny-meps-strongly-protest-unjust-prison-sentence