Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper), EU member states have been urged to “redouble” their efforts to secure the release of political prisoners in Russia.
MEPs will be asked this week to adopt a resolution on “the murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia”.
MEPs also claim that Russia should bear “criminal responsibility” for the death of Navalny, according to MEPs.
The allegation, by the Greens, comes on the day Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, was due to make a speech to the EU parliament plenary session in Strasbourg.
Her husband died in mysterious circumstances in a Russian jail over a week ago.
Ahead of this, Sergey LAGODINSKY, Greens/EFA MEP and Lead Rapporteur for the resolution, commented, “The Russian government and Vladimir Putin personally bear criminal and political responsibility for the murder of their strongest opponent, Alexei Navalny. This raises particularly the question of the legitimacy of Vladimir Putin.
“Navalny joined the list of critics of the Russian regime who have died after standing up against the autocracy and kleptocracy of the Kremlin. The EU has to do everything possible to call out the flagrant violations of human rights of this repressive regime.”
The MEP added, “Member States must redouble their efforts to secure the release of most affected, especially sick or tortured political prisoners, including the option of possible swaps of imprisoned individuals.
“As a Greens-EFA group, we are therefore defending the idea of nominating a special envoy for political prisoners and hostages in Russia. Such a special envoy would also serve as a point of contact with the families and associates.
“We must support and help all those who are fighting for democracy against the Russian regime.
“This is why it is necessary to increase and further facilitate the program for humanitarian visas and offer an EU-wide multi-entry visa scheme for human rights defenders and civil society activists as well as politically persecuted individuals.”
She said, “We will never win the battle for freedom if we leave Russian dissidents to their fate.”
