The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, deplored, on Sunday 31 January, “the widespread detentions and disproportionate use of force against demonstrators and journalists in Russia” on the same day.
“People must be able to exercise their right to demonstrate without fear of repression. Russia needs to comply with its international commitments”, he emphasised on his Twitter account. Several European leaders have also deplored, and even denounced, this violence together with the arrest of more than 5,000 people throughout the country during demonstrations carried out in support of political opponent Alexei Navalny.
Mr Borrell is due to visit Russia at the weekend (see EUROPE 12647/26), although not all Member States are in favour of the trip. “The plan to visit Moscow is still on the table, but what is happening in Russia is unacceptable”, stressed the spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS), Peter Stano, who was interviewed by the media. He specified that the situation was one of the issues that the High Representative intended to raise with his interlocutors during his stay.
Mr Stano added that the EEAS had been in contact with Mr Navalny’s team to see if a meeting could possibly take place, adding that he could not confirm anything at this stage.
On Monday 1 February, the Russian Prosecutor’s Office said it was in favour of revoking Alexei Navalny’s suspended sentence for violating his judicial control, this being on the eve of a hearing where he faces two to three years in prison (see EUROPE 12638/14). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)