European countries summon Russian diplomats over Navalny's death

Western countries have unanimously pointed blame at the Russian authorities for his death, three years into his sentence, which deprives the opposition of its most prominent figure a month ahead of presidential elections.
Leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya (C), Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel and Belgium's Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib arrive for a meeting of European Union Foreign Ministers.
Leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya (C), Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel and Belgium's Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib arrive for a meeting of European Union Foreign Ministers. (Photo | AFP)
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PARIS: A host of European governments Monday summoned Russian diplomats following the prison death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said during a visit to Argentina that Russia's ambassador in Paris would be summoned, while Norway's foreign ministry stated that it was calling on its top Russian diplomat "for a talk" about Navalny's death.

"In the conversation, Norwegian views will be conveyed about Russian authorities' responsibility for the death and for facilitating a transparent investigation," Norway said, adding that the meeting had not yet taken place but would shortly.

Leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya (C), Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel and Belgium's Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib arrive for a meeting of European Union Foreign Ministers.
'I love you': Alexei Navalny's wife posts on Instagram after husband's death in Russian prison

It followed similar announcements earlier Monday by Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands saying they have summoned diplomats from Russian embassies. London had done the same Friday evening.

Navalny's death in a remote prison in the Arctic, where the 47-year-old was serving a 19-year sentence after surviving a 2020 poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin, was announced Friday.

"The regime of Vladimir Putin has once again shown its true nature," France's Sejourne said Monday.

Western countries have unanimously pointed blame at the Russian authorities for his death, three years into his sentence, which deprives the opposition of its most prominent figure a month ahead of presidential elections that are expected to enhance Putin's firm grip on power.

Leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya (C), Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel and Belgium's Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib arrive for a meeting of European Union Foreign Ministers.
In Russia’s Arctic, Alexei Navalny’s mother searches for her son’s body

Finland's foreign ministry on X, formerly Twitter, called for Russia "to release all political prisoners" while confirming it had called on the ambassador Monday.

"It is terrible that Alexei Navalny has paid the ultimate price for his fight for a free and democratic Russia," Hanke Bruins Slot, the Netherlands' foreign affairs minister, posted on X. "We strongly urge Russia to release Navalny's body to his family and relatives."

Earlier Monday, Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said in a statement he had summoned Russia's ambassador, and called for the European Union to consider "a new sanctions regime targeting the internal repression in Russia."

Leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya (C), Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel and Belgium's Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib arrive for a meeting of European Union Foreign Ministers.
Alexei Navalny, Russian opposition leader and Putin critic, dies in prison

On Friday, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Madrid "demands that the circumstances" of the death be clarified.

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