Forty-three countries have asked Russia to conduct an independent international investigation into the death of politician Alexei Navalny, AFP reported on Monday.
The 47-year-old oppositionist died on February 16 in a Siberian colony, where he was most recently transferred to serve a 19-year sentence, while he was being prosecuted against him, according to his associates, more elaborate cases by the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We are outraged by the death of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, for which the ultimate responsibility lies with President Putin and the Russian authorities,” said EU Ambassador Lotte Knudsen, making the request for the investigation. “The unexpected and shocking death of Navalny was another sign of growing systematic repression in Russia,” she added.
The countries of the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, Australia, New Zealand and Ukraine also called on Russia to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, human rights defenders, journalists and anti-war activists detained for peacefully exercising their human rights and opposing the Russian war in Ukraine.
“We call on the Russian Federation to end this climate of impunity and create a safe environment for political opposition and critical voices,” the statement said.
“Russia’s political leadership and authorities must be held accountable. Navalny’s courage, self-sacrifice and unwavering commitment to the cause of justice, freedom and democracy will never be forgotten,” Knudsen said.
The official report on Navalny’s death, provided to his mother, indicated that the death was due to natural causes. At the same time, Navalny’s associates believe that the politician was killed.
