On Thursday, 10 June, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell denounced, on behalf of the EU, the decision handed down by a Moscow court the previous day to label Alexei Navalny’s organisations as ‘extremist groups’.
This ruling renders members of these organisations ineligible for election, and these individuals also risk heavy prison sentences.
According to the EU, the ruling “marks the most serious effort to date by the Russian Government to suppress the independent political opposition and anti-corruption investigations, and to eliminate Mr Navalny’s political networks’ influence ahead of the State Duma elections in September, and beyond”.
Mr Borrell felt that the decision was unfounded, that it confirmed “a negative pattern of a systematic crackdown” on human rights and freedoms enshrined in the Russian constitution, and that it would have far-reaching consequences for Russian civil society, the opposition, and critical voices.
“We urge the Russian Government to abide fully by its international obligations and commitments it has made, including in the Council of Europe and the OSCE, to uphold these rights”, added the High Representative.
In addition, President of the European Council Charles Michel announced on the same day that Russia would be on the G7 summit’s agenda on 12 June. “G7 partners share similar views on Russia’s disruptive activities”, he stated. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)