On the murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia
B-9-2024-0147
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group · Rapporteur: Sergey Lagodinsky, Francisco Guerreiro, Markéta Gregorová, Ignazio Corrao, Katrin Langensiepen, Mounir Satouri, Anna Cavazzini, Bronis Ropė, Alviina Alametsä, Erik Marquardt, Gwendoline DelbosCorfield, Heidi Hautala, Henrike Hahn, Jordi Solé, Malte Gallée, Viola von CramonTaubadel
Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.
Parliament's resolution condemns the murder of Alexei Navalny and holds the Russian state and President Vladimir Putin responsible. It calls for an independent international investigation, the release of political prisoners, and EU sanctions and visa support for Russian activists and dissidents.¶¶¶ It asks the Council to use the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime and to create an envoy for political prisoners, and urges member states to facilitate humanitarian visas and an EU-wide multi-entry visa scheme.¶¶ It reiterates support for Ukraine against Russia's war of aggression and calls on the Commission to develop a long-term strategic policy towards Russia.¶¶
Key points
- Parliament condemns the murder of Alexei Navalny, expresses condolences to his family and supporters, and supports Yulia Navalnaya and the Anti-Corruption Foundation.¶
- It calls on the Russian authorities to allow Navalny's burial according to his family's wishes and demands an independent international investigation into his death.¶
- It calls on the High Representative and member states to hold the Russian leadership to account and on the Council to use the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against those involved in Navalny's arrest, case, imprisonment and death.¶
- It states that the Russian Government and Putin bear criminal and political responsibility for Navalny's murder and that Putin's legitimacy may be questioned.¶
- It expresses solidarity with those fighting for a democratic Russia and condemns the crackdown on critics, human rights defenders and independent journalists since the invasion of Ukraine.¶
- It calls on the Russian authorities to drop arbitrary charges and release all political prisoners, naming several detainees, and demands humane detention conditions pending release.¶¶
- It calls on member states to seek ways to free the most affected prisoners, including possible exchanges, and on the Council to create an envoy for political prisoners and hostages.¶
- It calls on the Russian authorities to release those detained for paying tribute to Navalny and condemns the drafting of political protesters into the war.¶
- It calls on member states to impose extensive EU restrictive measures on those involved in persecuting Russian civil society and activists, with increased transparency in applying and lifting sanctions.¶
- It calls on EU delegations to attend politically motivated trials and on member states to increase humanitarian visas and support for Russian human rights defenders, activists and journalists at risk.¶¶
- It reiterates the call for an EU-wide multi-entry visa scheme, asks the EU institutions to prepare for possible Russian passport non-issuance including recognition of de facto statelessness, and calls for simplified administrative processes for Russian dissidents in the EU.¶¶
- It calls on member states to avoid disproportionate restrictive measures on those fleeing the Russian Government, deplores Russia's imperialist policies, reiterates support for Ukraine, and calls for a long-term EU strategic policy towards Russia and continued condemnation of human rights violations.¶¶¶
Who is affected
- Russian authorities, who are called on to release political prisoners, allow Navalny's burial and stop the crackdown.¶¶¶
- EU member states, who are asked to impose sanctions, facilitate visas and support Russian activists.¶¶¶
- Russian political prisoners and arbitrarily detained people, who should be released and given proper detention conditions.¶¶
- Russian human rights defenders, pro-democracy activists and independent journalists, who should receive EU visas and support.¶¶
- The Council and Commission, which are asked to create an envoy for political prisoners and develop a strategic policy towards Russia.¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- over 500 people currently jailed in Russia as political prisoners¶
- Navalny had been in detention since 17 January 2021¶
- Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022¶
- UN Special Rapporteur report of 21 September 2023¶
- EU Agency for Fundamental Rights report of 11 July 2023¶
- High Representative statement of 19 February 2024¶
- Conference of Presidents statement of 21 February 2024¶
- UN Human Rights Council to extend mandate again in 2024¶