On Thursday 6 April, MEPs asked the Russian authorities to release Alexeï Navalny immediately, along with all the peaceful demonstrators, journalists and campaigners imprisoned after peaceful demonstrations against corruption. The MEPs also called for the accusations against these people to be lifted.
In a joint resolution from the ECR, S&D, Greens/EFA, ALDE and EPP Groups on Russia and the arrest of Navalny and other demonstrators, the European Parliament says it is very concerned that Navalny's arrest shows the Russian authorities' use of the law on public meetings to accelerate the process of imprisoning peaceful demonstrators in order to then subject them to systematic bad treatment. The European Parliament condemns the constant attempts to reduce Navalny to silence, and is concerned at the court decision in February 2017 that excludes him from the political scene.
The punishment meted out following the demonstrations is politically motivated, the Parliament regrets, and it calls for the Russian judicial system to show its independence with regard to any political interference.
The Russian authorities must put an end to the harassment of journalists, political opponents, political campaigners and civil society. They must also fully respect Russia's international obligations on human rights and guarantee the freedom of the media and the freedom of assembly, the MEPs state. They call on Russia to amend its legislation that unduly restricts and criminalises the freedom of assembly.
The European Parliament hails Russians commitment to demonstrate against general corruption, which translates into increased interest for public and political affairs. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)