G7 foreign ministers called on Russian authorities to release opposition activist Alexei Navalny.
“We, the foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Great Britain, and the United States, as well as the high representative of the EU, are united in condemning the politically motivated arrest and detention of Alexei Navalny,” the statement said.
Diplomats also expressed deep concern about the detention of thousands of peaceful demonstrators and journalists and called on Russia to comply with its international and domestic obligations.
They also called on Russian authorities to release those detained for exercising their right to peaceful assembly on January 23. “The violent suppression of the right of citizens to express their opinions by police forces is unacceptable,” the statement reads.
The foreign ministers recalled that the European Court of Human Rights did not uphold the court rulings for which Navalny had been arrested.
Just to remind you, Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said that Navalny has allegedly repeatedly grossly violated Russian law by engaging in large-scale fraud, so he should be punished for that and kept behind bars.
It was also reported that more than 3,700 people were detained at rallies in support of Navalny. Many were detained for calling for participation in the rally because it was unsanctioned.
