After Alexei Navalny’s death, the Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador to Berlin. Apparently the EU is planning new sanctions. The Kremlin critic’s widow wants to continue his work.
The federal government summoned the Russian ambassador after the death of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. It is shocking that President Vladimir Putin is trying to silence his own population, said a spokeswoman for the Foreign Office in Berlin.
Call for the release of all political prisoners
The politically motivated proceedings against Navalny and numerous other critics of the Russian government and the inhumane prison conditions show how brutal the Russian justice system is against dissidents and the means Putin uses to suppress freedom of expression in Russia, said the spokeswoman. “We condemn this in the strongest possible terms and expressly call for the release of all those imprisoned in Russia for political reasons.”
The federal government called on Russia to hand over Navalny’s body to the family, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit added. Both Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had a conversation with Navalny’s widow Julia. There must be an independent investigation into the cause of death of the opposition politician.
Further sanctions planned
Given the recent wave of arrests, Hebestreit said impunity commemoration should be the minimum. People who wanted to lay flowers for Navalny were even arrested. “Our respect goes to all the courageous people in Russia who are committed to democracy and freedom despite the harshest repression.”
Hebestreit added that Baerbock had proposed further sanctions against Russia at the EU level. This will be discussed with the other states. Putin lacks any respect for human life. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said before a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels that EU sanctions that punish violations of human rights should in future bear Navalny’s name.
Widow wants to continue Navalny’s work
Yulia Navalnaya, the opposition leader’s widow, also spoke out. In a video message, she said she would continue her husband’s work and fight for a free Russia. “I want to live in a free Russia, I want to build a free Russia,” Navalnaya said. She made serious accusations against the Russian ruler: “Vladimir Putin killed my husband.”
Mother still has no access to the body
In Russia, Navalny’s mother and his lawyers are still waiting to finally see the body. As Navalny’s spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh announced, Lyudmila Navalnaya was not allowed into the morgue in the northern Russian city of Salekhard. “When asked whether Alexei’s body is there, the employees do not answer,” Yarmysh wrote on the X news service. One of the lawyers was literally pushed out of the morgue.
In the investigative committee, the mother and lawyers were told that the investigation into Navalny’s death had been extended, Yarmysch said. “How long it will last is unknown.” Relatives and Navalny’s team have been calling on the Russian power apparatus for days to hand over the body. Navalny’s mother had already visited the morgue on Saturday in vain to receive her son’s remains.