On Wednesday 17 January, 3 years to the day since Alexei Navalny returned to Russia, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, reiterated the EU’s call for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr Navalny and of all political prisoners in Russia.
Extremely concerned about the state of health of several of these political prisoners, which is aggravated by “by prison conditions, ill-treatment and lack of access to adequate medical care”, the High Representative reiterates, in his statement on behalf of the EU, that Russia’s political leaders are responsible for the safety, health and well-being of prisoners. “The prohibition of torture is absolute under international law”, he added.
Mr Borrell reiterated the EU’s call for Russia to comply with the interim measure of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) demanding Mr Navalny’s immediate release. He also recalled that Russia was bound by the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and by its other obligations under international human rights law.
To see the statement: https://aeur.eu/f/afe (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)