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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2024/2579(RSP))

On the murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia

B-9-2024-0146

on behalf of The Left Group · Rapporteur: Malin Björk, Nikolaj Villumsen, Dimitrios Papadimoulis

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Parliament's resolution on the murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia. It condemns the Russian authorities, calls for an independent investigation into Navalny's death, and demands the release of all political prisoners. It condemns ongoing human rights violations and the crackdown on civil society, the opposition and independent media in Russia, and calls on the Russian authorities to end the persecution of opponents to Putin. It calls on the EU and its member states to support civil society organisations and human rights defenders, to raise human rights concerns through diplomatic channels, and to work with international partners including the United Nations and the Council of Europe.

Key points

  1. Parliament expresses deep sorrow and outrage at the death of Alexei Navalny while serving a politically motivated prison sentence.
  2. It condemns the Russian authorities for failing to ensure Navalny's safety and well-being and for failing to attend to his health issues in custody.
  3. It condemns the Russian authorities for the inordinate and undue delay in giving Navalny's family and their representatives access to his body.
  4. It calls for a full and independent investigation into the circumstances of Navalny's death, in full transparency and without further delay, and for the perpetrators to be held accountable and an immediate end to impunity.
  5. It calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Russia.
  6. It condemns ongoing human rights violations and the shrinking space for civil society in Russia, and expresses deep concern over the crackdown on the opposition, including those opposing Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine such as Alexey Sakhin.
  7. It stresses that efforts to silence civil society confirm a pattern of oppression, and condemns the developments towards ever more authoritarianism and the shrinking space of the extra-parliamentary opposition and civil society.
  8. It calls on the Russian authorities to end the persecution of opponents to Putin, of civil society and of independent media, and to create and maintain a safe and secure environment for civil society organisations, protesters and media outlets.
  9. It calls for the EU and its member states to provide support to civil society organisations and human rights defenders, and for the EU to support the establishment of a network of human rights defenders to monitor and report on human rights violations.
  10. It calls for the EU and its member states to use all available diplomatic channels to raise human rights concerns with the Russian authorities and to press for the release of political prisoners and the protection of civil society.
  11. It calls for the EU and its member states to work with international partners, including the United Nations and the Council of Europe, in promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Who is affected

  • The Russian authorities, which the resolution condemns and calls on to end persecution and ensure a safe environment for civil society.
  • Political prisoners in Russia, whose immediate and unconditional release is demanded.
  • Civil society organisations, human rights defenders and independent media in Russia, which the EU is called to support.
  • The EU and its member states, which are called to provide support and use diplomatic channels.

Figures and deadlines

  • 22 March 2022, when Moscow's Lefortovo District Court convicted Alexei Navalny to nine years in a maximum security prison.
  • January 2021, when Mr Navalny was arrested.
  • August 2020, when Navalny was the victim of an attack with a chemical nerve agent.
  • 14.17 local time (9.17 Greenwich Mean Time) on Friday 16 February, when the death of Alexei Navalny was confirmed.
  • Eight days after his death, when the Russian authorities returned Alexei Navalny's body to his mother.
  • 15 March 2022, when Russia decided to leave the Council of Europe.