٠٠:٠٣:٥٣German Federal Foreign Office spokesperson Kathrin Deschauer and Steffen Hebestreit, head of the Federal Government's Press and Information Office, strongly criticised Russia's 'actions' following the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
"We condemn this in the strongest possible terms and explicitly demand the release of all those detained in Russia for political reasons. It is shocking that in Russia, people are arrested for laying flowers for the murdered Alexei Navalny ‑ over 380 in 39 cities on the weekend alone. Our respect goes to all brave people in Russia who, despite the harshest repressions, are committed to democracy and freedom," Deschauer said.
Furthermore, Deschauer announced that the Russian ambassador would be summoned to address what they believed to be 'politically-motivated' trials of Navalny and other critics of the Russian government, as well as the conditions of their detention.
Hebestreit reiterated the German government's dismay over Navalny's death and called on Russian authorities to fully investigate the circumstances.
"The death of the opposition politician shows once again how brutal and inhumane Putin's treatment of dissenters is. The fact that the Russian president lacks any respect for human life is also evident every day when it comes to Russian warfare in Ukraine," Hebestreit alleged.
"Navalny's long-standing and inhumane imprisonment is based on hypocritical politically motivated judgments. Navalny has campaigned for democracy, freedom and the rule of law in Russia. We call on Russia to put an end to the unacceptable persecution of politically dissident people, as well as the systematic suppression of human rights and the inadmissible restriction of civil rights," Hebestreit claimed.
Hebestreit stated that further European sanctions were being considered.
"I cannot tell you anything at this stage about the specific consequences to which you have alluded. We are taking a close look at the situation. At the moment, the Foreign Minister has proposed further European sanctions against Russia in Brussels," Hebestreit concluded.
Alexei Navalny's death was reported by Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service on Friday. The cause of death had not been released at the time of publication.
US President Joe Biden called the incident 'more proof of Putin's brutality', while NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia had 'serious questions to answer'. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky alleged that it was 'obvious' that Vladimir Putin was behind the death. None provided any evidence to back their assertions.
Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitri Peskov accused Western leaders of making 'entirely insane' and 'entirely unacceptable' statements. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that 'the instant reaction of NATO leaders to Navalny's death in the form of direct accusations against Russia is self-disclosing.'
"There is no forensic examination yet, but the West already has conclusions ready," Zakharova added.
Navalny returned to Moscow in January 2021, after being treated in Germany for an alleged poisoning attempt while on a flight in Russia in August 2020.
He was initially detained at the airport in the Russian capital, and sentenced to two and a half years in jail for a parole violation stemming from a 2014 embezzlement conviction. The politician was subsequently charged with fraud and contempt of court, and given another nine years in prison.
Navalny claimed all accusations against him were politically motivated. In August 2023, he received another 19 years for inciting and financing extremism, among other charges.
'We condemn this in strongest possible terms' - German govt spox hits out at Russian 'actions' following Navalny's death
German Federal Foreign Office spokesperson Kathrin Deschauer and Steffen Hebestreit, head of the Federal Government's Press and Information Office, strongly criticised Russia's 'actions' following the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
"We condemn this in the strongest possible terms and explicitly demand the release of all those detained in Russia for political reasons. It is shocking that in Russia, people are arrested for laying flowers for the murdered Alexei Navalny ‑ over 380 in 39 cities on the weekend alone. Our respect goes to all brave people in Russia who, despite the harshest repressions, are committed to democracy and freedom," Deschauer said.
Furthermore, Deschauer announced that the Russian ambassador would be summoned to address what they believed to be 'politically-motivated' trials of Navalny and other critics of the Russian government, as well as the conditions of their detention.
Hebestreit reiterated the German government's dismay over Navalny's death and called on Russian authorities to fully investigate the circumstances.
"The death of the opposition politician shows once again how brutal and inhumane Putin's treatment of dissenters is. The fact that the Russian president lacks any respect for human life is also evident every day when it comes to Russian warfare in Ukraine," Hebestreit alleged.
"Navalny's long-standing and inhumane imprisonment is based on hypocritical politically motivated judgments. Navalny has campaigned for democracy, freedom and the rule of law in Russia. We call on Russia to put an end to the unacceptable persecution of politically dissident people, as well as the systematic suppression of human rights and the inadmissible restriction of civil rights," Hebestreit claimed.
Hebestreit stated that further European sanctions were being considered.
"I cannot tell you anything at this stage about the specific consequences to which you have alluded. We are taking a close look at the situation. At the moment, the Foreign Minister has proposed further European sanctions against Russia in Brussels," Hebestreit concluded.
Alexei Navalny's death was reported by Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service on Friday. The cause of death had not been released at the time of publication.
US President Joe Biden called the incident 'more proof of Putin's brutality', while NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia had 'serious questions to answer'. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky alleged that it was 'obvious' that Vladimir Putin was behind the death. None provided any evidence to back their assertions.
Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitri Peskov accused Western leaders of making 'entirely insane' and 'entirely unacceptable' statements. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that 'the instant reaction of NATO leaders to Navalny's death in the form of direct accusations against Russia is self-disclosing.'
"There is no forensic examination yet, but the West already has conclusions ready," Zakharova added.
Navalny returned to Moscow in January 2021, after being treated in Germany for an alleged poisoning attempt while on a flight in Russia in August 2020.
He was initially detained at the airport in the Russian capital, and sentenced to two and a half years in jail for a parole violation stemming from a 2014 embezzlement conviction. The politician was subsequently charged with fraud and contempt of court, and given another nine years in prison.
Navalny claimed all accusations against him were politically motivated. In August 2023, he received another 19 years for inciting and financing extremism, among other charges.
German Federal Foreign Office spokesperson Kathrin Deschauer and Steffen Hebestreit, head of the Federal Government's Press and Information Office, strongly criticised Russia's 'actions' following the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
"We condemn this in the strongest possible terms and explicitly demand the release of all those detained in Russia for political reasons. It is shocking that in Russia, people are arrested for laying flowers for the murdered Alexei Navalny ‑ over 380 in 39 cities on the weekend alone. Our respect goes to all brave people in Russia who, despite the harshest repressions, are committed to democracy and freedom," Deschauer said.
Furthermore, Deschauer announced that the Russian ambassador would be summoned to address what they believed to be 'politically-motivated' trials of Navalny and other critics of the Russian government, as well as the conditions of their detention.
Hebestreit reiterated the German government's dismay over Navalny's death and called on Russian authorities to fully investigate the circumstances.
"The death of the opposition politician shows once again how brutal and inhumane Putin's treatment of dissenters is. The fact that the Russian president lacks any respect for human life is also evident every day when it comes to Russian warfare in Ukraine," Hebestreit alleged.
"Navalny's long-standing and inhumane imprisonment is based on hypocritical politically motivated judgments. Navalny has campaigned for democracy, freedom and the rule of law in Russia. We call on Russia to put an end to the unacceptable persecution of politically dissident people, as well as the systematic suppression of human rights and the inadmissible restriction of civil rights," Hebestreit claimed.
Hebestreit stated that further European sanctions were being considered.
"I cannot tell you anything at this stage about the specific consequences to which you have alluded. We are taking a close look at the situation. At the moment, the Foreign Minister has proposed further European sanctions against Russia in Brussels," Hebestreit concluded.
Alexei Navalny's death was reported by Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service on Friday. The cause of death had not been released at the time of publication.
US President Joe Biden called the incident 'more proof of Putin's brutality', while NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia had 'serious questions to answer'. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky alleged that it was 'obvious' that Vladimir Putin was behind the death. None provided any evidence to back their assertions.
Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitri Peskov accused Western leaders of making 'entirely insane' and 'entirely unacceptable' statements. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that 'the instant reaction of NATO leaders to Navalny's death in the form of direct accusations against Russia is self-disclosing.'
"There is no forensic examination yet, but the West already has conclusions ready," Zakharova added.
Navalny returned to Moscow in January 2021, after being treated in Germany for an alleged poisoning attempt while on a flight in Russia in August 2020.
He was initially detained at the airport in the Russian capital, and sentenced to two and a half years in jail for a parole violation stemming from a 2014 embezzlement conviction. The politician was subsequently charged with fraud and contempt of court, and given another nine years in prison.
Navalny claimed all accusations against him were politically motivated. In August 2023, he received another 19 years for inciting and financing extremism, among other charges.