MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Russia, the case of Alexei Navalny, the military build-up on Ukraine’s border and Russian attacks in the Czech Republic

B9‑0250/2021

European Parliament resolution on Russia, the case of Alexei Navalny, the military build-up on Ukraine’s border and Russian attacks in the Czech Republic

(2021/2642(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on the case of Alexei Navalny, in particular that of 21 January 2021 on the arrest of Alexei Navalny[1], as well as its other resolutions on Russia and Ukraine,

– having regard to the related declarations of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on behalf of the European Union, in particular those of 21 April 2021 in solidarity with the Czech Republic over criminal activities on its territory and of 18 April 2021 on the deteriorating health of Alexei Navalny,

– having regard to the joint statements by the G7 Foreign Ministers and the High Representative of 12 April 2021 on the situation along Ukraine’s border and of 18 March 2012 on Russia’s continued actions to undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence,

– having regard to Article 2(4) of the UN Charter,

– having regard to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Helsinki Final Act and the Vienna Document 2011 on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures,

– having regard to the Minsk agreements of September 2014 and February 2015,

– having regard to Rule 132(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Alexei Navalny, Russia’s best-known anti-corruption activist and opposition politician, who was detained on 17 January 2021 and sentenced to a 3.5-year jail term on 2 February, was transferred on 12 March to a penal colony in Pokrov, where he began a hunger strike more than three weeks ago;

B. whereas recent alarming reports about his rapidly deteriorating health confirmed the worst fears about his personal safety and life among his family, friends and supporters and among the international community and led to his transfer to a prison hospital near Moscow where his life continues to be in danger;

C. whereas in March 2014 the Russian Federation illegally annexed the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, while certain areas of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions were occupied by Russia-backed forces;

D. whereas the Minsk agreements of September 2014 and February 2015 must be implemented fully by all sides and without delay in order to restore Ukraine’s full control over its entire territory within internationally recognised borders and ensure sustainable peace;

E. whereas the latest Normandy Summit in Paris on 9 December 2019 agreed several measures notably concerning a renewed ceasefire and disengagement of forces;

F. whereas the Russian Federation has recently deployed troops and built up its military at the border with Ukraine, has significantly scaled up its military activities in illegally occupied Crimea and has built up striking capabilities along the Ukrainian border, indicating intentions of an offensive in Ukraine;

G. whereas the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation announced on 23 April that troops and units stationed near the Ukrainian border would return to their permanent locations until 1 May 2021;

H. whereas OSCE participating states are to provide each other with information about, inter alia, deployment plans, to notify each other ahead of time about significant military activities such as exercises and to consult and cooperate in the event of unusual military activity or increasing tensions;

I. whereas Ukraine has requested that paragraph 16.3 of Chapter III of the Vienna Document 2011 on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures be invoked, requesting an explanation of unusual military activities of the Russian Federation near Ukraine’s border and in occupied Crimea;

J. whereas, according to the principles of international law and the UN Charter, all states ‘shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state’;

K. whereas illegal activities by Russian GRU military intelligence service agents on the territory of the Czech Republic caused explosions at an ammunition depot in the town of Vrbětice in 2014, resulting in the deaths of two Czech citizens, a serious threat to the civilian population and immense material damage;

L. whereas on 17 April the Czech Republic expelled 18 Russian embassy staff, to which Russia responded by expelling 20 diplomats from the Czech Republic’s embassy in Moscow;

1. Expresses its deepest concerns about the health and life of Alexei Navalny and urges the Russian authorities to grant him access to medical treatment by professional medical staff whom he, his family and the international community trust;

2. Continues to call for the immediate release of Alexei Navalny and all persons detained during protests in support of his release or his anti-corruption campaign; calls on the Council to start preparations for additional restrictive measures against Russian officials responsible for the safety and health of Alexei Navalny in the penal colony where he is being held so that all individuals involved in the prosecution, sentencing and ill-treatment of Alexei Navalny will be subject to restrictive measures under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime;

3. Calls on the Russian authorities to put an end to the harassment, intimidation and violence against political opponents, civil society activists, media representatives and protestors, and to cease the repression aimed at deterring any political opposition in the country ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in autumn 2021;

4. Is highly concerned by the large Russian military build-up at the border with Ukraine and in the illegally occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea; condemns these threatening and destabilising actions led by the Russian Federation and acknowledges with appreciation the proportionate response of Ukraine;

5. Firmly demands that the Russian Federation refrain from hostile posturing and instead comply with its obligations under the Vienna Document 2011;

6. Takes note of the announcement by the Russian Federation that troops and units stationed near Ukraine’s borders would return to their base; insists that this should be done fully and without delay and asks Russia to fully cooperate on further de-escalating measures;

7. Reiterates its unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders as well as its call on the Russian Federation to fulfil at last its international obligations, in particular to withdraw all its military forces from the territory of Ukraine, including from the entire regions of Donetsk and Luhansk;

8. Calls on all sides, and in particular on the Russian Federation, to respect the measures agreed under the Minsk agreements and during the Normandy Summits and to work with determination towards the peaceful settlement of the conflict; calls on all sides to continue to engage constructively in the Normandy Format and the Trilateral Contact Group;

9. Emphasises again the need for a political solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine and underlines that political dialogue remains the sole basis for solving the conflict; underlines the need to restore trust between the parties and therefore calls on the European External Action Service (EEAS), together with EU Member States, to enhance the efforts in mediation, confidence-building measures and conflict resolution;

10. Urges the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) to ensure that the Council remains seized of the military developments despite the announced relocation of Russian troops and remains prepared to agree on further joint action; in this respect, calls for a thorough evaluation of the possible reactions to threats and violations by the Russian Federation to European security, democracy and the safety of citizens;

11. Calls for the EU to act in a timely manner and with resolve in response to disruptive actions by Russian intelligence services on the territory of the EU and to closely coordinate its proportionate response with transatlantic partners;

12. Calls on the Commission, the Council, the VP/HR and the Member States, in cooperation with transatlantic partners, to use all means available at international level to effectively counter Russia’s continued interferences, ever-more aggressive disinformation campaigns and gross violations of international law that threaten security and stability in Europe;

13. Calls on the VP/HR to ensure continued cohesion around the EU’s five guiding principles for its policy towards Russia and to develop a comprehensive strategy towards Russia with a firm and principled position, based on the need to respect international law and human rights standards and aimed at strengthening peace and security and supporting democracy, the rule of law and civil society;

14. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the President, Government and Parliament of the Russian Federation.