MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the arrest of Alexei Navalny

B9‑0095/2021

European Parliament resolution on the arrest of Alexei Navalny

(2021/2513(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its resolution of 17 September 2020 on the situation in Russia, the poisoning of Alexei Navalny[1],

– having regard to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,

– having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

– having regard to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, in particular Chapter 2, and specifically Article 29, which protects the freedom of speech, and to the international human rights obligations to which Russia has committed itself as Member of the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the UN,

– having regard to the exchange of views with Alexei Navalny and other leading democratic opposition politicians from Russia conducted in the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament on 27 November 2020,

– having regard to the statements of the President of the European Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy following the detention of Alexei Navalny in Moscow on 17 January 2021,

– having regard to the statements of leaders of EU Member States on the detention of Alexei Navalny upon his arrival in Moscow,

– having regard to the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998,

– having regard to the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime adopted by the Council on 7 December 2020,

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

A. whereas Alexei Navalny, a leading Russian opposition politician, lawyer, blogger and anti-corruption activist, has uncovered numerous cases of corruption involving business enterprises and Russian politicians, and become one of the most effective leaders of the Russian opposition;

B. whereas Alexei Navalny has been detained, arrested and sentenced previously, in attempts to stop his political and public activities; whereas the European Court of Human Rights has declared a number of those procedures abusive and contrary to the principle of a fair trial;

C. whereas Alexei Navalny is reported to have fallen into a coma on 20 August 2020 on board a domestic Russian flight, was transported to a hospital in the Russian city of Omsk. and was flown to Germany where he received medical treatment at the Charité clinic;

D. whereas the assassination attempt on Alexei Navalny took place during the run-up to Russia’s local and regional elections on 13 September 2020, in which he advocated a ‘smart voting’ strategy to defeat candidates of the Putin regime;

E. whereas on 15 October 2020 the European Union introduced sanctions against six Russian officials and one entity involved in the attempted poisoning of Alexei Navalny; the sanctions consist of asset freezes and travel bans;

F. whereas upon his arrival in Moscow on 17 January 2021, after spending the previous six months in Germany where he underwent medical treatment and subsequent convalescence, Alexei Navalny was detained by the authorities at the airport;

G. whereas the Russian authorities claim that he was arrested for failing to comply with a Russian Court’s order obliging him to report to the competent Russian penitentiary authorities while he was recovering from an assassination attempt orchestrated by the Russian authorities, as proven by the Bellingcat investigation;

H. whereas on 18 January 2021 the Russian authorities brought a new criminal case against Alexei Navalny, charging him with fraud related to the transfer of money to various charities;

I. whereas on Monday 18 January 2021 state prosecutors requested that the court jail Alexei Navalny for 30 days;

J. whereas according to the renowned Russian human rights society Memorial, there are over 300 political and religious prisoners in the Russian Federation; whereas the EU shows solidarity with all dissidents and the Russian people, who, despite the threat to their freedom and their lives and the pressure from the Kremlin and the Russian authorities, continue to fight for freedom, human rights and democracy;

K. whereas since December 2020 the European Union has had in its toolbox the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, known as the European Magnitsky Act, which targets individuals and entities responsible, involved or associated with serious human rights violations and abuse worldwide;

1. Strongly condemns the arrest of Alexei Navalny upon his return to Moscow, and demands his immediate and unconditional release; condemns once again the attempt on his life, furthermore, and expresses its deepest concern about the shrinking space for political opposition, dissident voices and civil society in the Russian Federation;

2. Strongly condemns the arrest of approximately 60 journalists and supporters of Alexei Navalny who were present at the airport to greet him;

3. Believes that Alexei Navalny’s arrest is an extremely worrying development, which further deteriorates the already strained relationship between the European Union and the Russian Federation, triggered by continuous violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, disinformation campaigns, acts of interference in the electoral process of other countries, and by generating and supporting conflicts in partner countries in the eastern neighbourhood;

4. Considers that Alexei Navalny is not only a prominent democratic opposition leader, but also a moral leader for all Russians, who despise widespread corruption and the impunity of those in power; maintains that his determination and bravery is a beacon of hope to all those in Russia who believe that freedom, democracy, political pluralism and accountability are possible in their country;

5. Considers that the arrest of Alexei Navalny is a clear attempt to side-line and eliminate from the political scene the only person who has managed in recent years to constitute a real challenge to the authorities, and who continues to do so prior to the parliamentary elections scheduled for the autumn of 2021; believes that in doing so the regime reveals its disdain towards its own people, ruthlessly pursues remaining in power, and deprives the people of any chance of democracy and freedom;

6. Underscores that there is an ever increasing convergence of attitudes and tactics between the regime in Russia and the dictatorship in Belarus; believes that both regimes fear the growing demand for change among their people, which is why stealing elections presents itself as a convenient political solution to them; considers that the unintended consequence is the increase in the people’s determination to strive for change, because if they were given an opportunity, they would chose freedom, democracy and the respect of universal human rights;

7. Highlights its determination to closely monitor the development Alexei Navalny’s situation and his wellbeing, both physical and mental, for which the Russian authorities are solely responsible; reiterates the need to expand the sanctions so far introduced in relation to the poisoning of Alexei Navalny to include individuals involved in his arrest and those who gave orders to do so; considers, moreover, that the EU should not hesitate to apply the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime in relation to the case of Alexei Navalny; suggests, furthermore, that the Council and High Representative use it towards prosecutors and judges who participate in politically motivated court rulings;

8. Advices the Council to introduce sanctions against Russian oligarchs with ties to the regime and members of President Putin’s inner circle who own assets in the European Union and enjoy freedom of travel to the Member States; believes that these sanctions should also be extended to their immediate family members; maintains that the European Union should no longer be a welcoming place for Russian wealth of unclear origin;

9. Recalls that the poisoning and now arrest of Alexei Navalny are just the latest of many developments reinforcing the need for the EU and its Member States to conduct a thorough reassessment of their relations with Russia, including the five guiding principles and economic cooperation; considers that the promotion of democracy, together with strengthening universal values and principles, should be the centrepiece of the EU’s new strategy towards the Russian Federation;

10. Demands that the Russian authorities stop the practise of intimidation and political persecution of their critics, including the independent media, bloggers, civil society organisations, entrepreneurs, activists, and people from the world of culture and arts; reminds that sanctions would be used in further cases of systemic oppression of the opposition as well as falsification of forthcoming elections;

11. Calls on the EU Member States to coordinate their positions on Russia and speak with one voice in bilateral and multilateral forums with the Russian authorities; believes, moreover, that the EU should take advantage of the change of administration in Washington to strengthen transatlantic unity in protecting democracy and fundamental values against authoritarian regimes; recalls that Parliament stands by the Russian people in their struggle for fundamental freedoms, human rights and democracy;

12. 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.