On Thursday 1 October, EU leaders called on the Russian authorities to cooperate “fully” with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to ensure an impartial international investigation into the poisoning of political opponent Alexei Navalny and to bring those responsible to justice.
In the text of the conclusions it adopted, which is more developed than previous draft texts (see EUROPE 12572/5), the European Council condemns the poisoning of Mr Navalny, describing it as an “assassination attempt”. “The use of chemical weapons constitutes a serious breach of international law”, it added.
European leaders have committed to once more looking at the subject at the European Council to be held on 15 and 16 October.
Furthermore, according to the thematic agenda for the summits published on 2 October (see other news), Russia will be discussed in depth at the European Council to be held on 25 and 26 March 2021. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)