٠٠:٠٣:٣٦The imprisonment of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny was highlighted at a German government press conference in Berlin on Friday. Officials have once again demanded his 'immediate release' and that of others whose sentences are 'politically motivated.'
Christiane Hoffmann, German Government Deputy Spokesperson, said they condemned Russia's alleged behaviour towards its own citizens, especially 'since the beginning of the war of aggression against Ukraine.'
"We are watching the Russian state's treatment of opposition figures and non-governmental organizations with the greatest concern. The politicpoally motivated trials of opposition figure Alexei Navalny and the inhumane prison conditions show how the Russian judiciary is being instrumentalized against him and many of his compatriots," added Hoffmann.
Federal Foreign Office spokesman Christian Wagner also added that the country's foreign minister spoke to Navalny's wife last week and reiterated that German authorities 'still working hard to secure his release.'
The anti-corruption campaign founder was taken into custody on January 17, 2021 upon his return to Russia from Germany, where he spent nearly five months recovering from an alleged Novichok nerve agent attack.
After being detained, the politician was sent to a penal colony, replacing his suspended sentence in the Yves Rocher case with a real one. He was later sentenced to nine years in a strict regime penal colony for particularly large-scale fraud and contempt of court. He has denied the charges.
Another criminal case of extremism was launched against Navalny and his associates in October last year. In late April, during a hearing, Navalny said that he had also been prosecuted for terrorism.
Moscow claims his imprisonment is related to criminal behaviour rather than political activity. Russian authorities have strongly denied any involvement in his alleged poisoning.
Germany: 'Working hard for his release' - Govt spox demands 'immediate release' of Navalny
The imprisonment of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny was highlighted at a German government press conference in Berlin on Friday. Officials have once again demanded his 'immediate release' and that of others whose sentences are 'politically motivated.'
Christiane Hoffmann, German Government Deputy Spokesperson, said they condemned Russia's alleged behaviour towards its own citizens, especially 'since the beginning of the war of aggression against Ukraine.'
"We are watching the Russian state's treatment of opposition figures and non-governmental organizations with the greatest concern. The politicpoally motivated trials of opposition figure Alexei Navalny and the inhumane prison conditions show how the Russian judiciary is being instrumentalized against him and many of his compatriots," added Hoffmann.
Federal Foreign Office spokesman Christian Wagner also added that the country's foreign minister spoke to Navalny's wife last week and reiterated that German authorities 'still working hard to secure his release.'
The anti-corruption campaign founder was taken into custody on January 17, 2021 upon his return to Russia from Germany, where he spent nearly five months recovering from an alleged Novichok nerve agent attack.
After being detained, the politician was sent to a penal colony, replacing his suspended sentence in the Yves Rocher case with a real one. He was later sentenced to nine years in a strict regime penal colony for particularly large-scale fraud and contempt of court. He has denied the charges.
Another criminal case of extremism was launched against Navalny and his associates in October last year. In late April, during a hearing, Navalny said that he had also been prosecuted for terrorism.
Moscow claims his imprisonment is related to criminal behaviour rather than political activity. Russian authorities have strongly denied any involvement in his alleged poisoning.
The imprisonment of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny was highlighted at a German government press conference in Berlin on Friday. Officials have once again demanded his 'immediate release' and that of others whose sentences are 'politically motivated.'
Christiane Hoffmann, German Government Deputy Spokesperson, said they condemned Russia's alleged behaviour towards its own citizens, especially 'since the beginning of the war of aggression against Ukraine.'
"We are watching the Russian state's treatment of opposition figures and non-governmental organizations with the greatest concern. The politicpoally motivated trials of opposition figure Alexei Navalny and the inhumane prison conditions show how the Russian judiciary is being instrumentalized against him and many of his compatriots," added Hoffmann.
Federal Foreign Office spokesman Christian Wagner also added that the country's foreign minister spoke to Navalny's wife last week and reiterated that German authorities 'still working hard to secure his release.'
The anti-corruption campaign founder was taken into custody on January 17, 2021 upon his return to Russia from Germany, where he spent nearly five months recovering from an alleged Novichok nerve agent attack.
After being detained, the politician was sent to a penal colony, replacing his suspended sentence in the Yves Rocher case with a real one. He was later sentenced to nine years in a strict regime penal colony for particularly large-scale fraud and contempt of court. He has denied the charges.
Another criminal case of extremism was launched against Navalny and his associates in October last year. In late April, during a hearing, Navalny said that he had also been prosecuted for terrorism.
Moscow claims his imprisonment is related to criminal behaviour rather than political activity. Russian authorities have strongly denied any involvement in his alleged poisoning.