MEPs debated the EU's response to developments in the case of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny, at the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday.

EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said he had expressed 'grave concerns' on Tuesday after the Moscow Prosecutor's Office asked that Navalny's anti-corruption network be classified as an 'extremist' organisation.

Borrell said the EU would continue to call on Russia to ensure "the right conditions for Mr Navalny, his speedy recovery."

Latvian MEP Sandra Kalniete meanwhile called for the release of the Russian opposition activist. "The Kremlin must respect the decision of the European Court of Human rights and immediately and unconditionally release Alexei Navalny," she stated.

Other MEPs however raised issues related to questions of evidence and apparent omissions over the Navalny case.

"We're calling on Russia to investigate the Navalny case. But the OPCW and Germany have refused to supply the Russian authorities with Navalny's biomedical samples so that they could initiate the investigation, why?," he asked.

"Who's interest does our anti-Russian rhetoric serve now? The people of Russia? No. The people of Europe? No. More like the interests of NATO, the arms industry and US imperialism," he added.

MEP Miroslav Radacovsky asked, "when it comes to Mr Navalny, has anybody looked at the judgement that was handed down? No we don't bother with that sort of thing."

"Because we have to look at the judgement. I was myself a judge and without evidence, without being able to see evidence, there is no way, and nobody in a civilised fashion would be able to hand down a judgement. That is not correct. Europe needs to act as one, we need to have a dialogue and we should not be russophobes," he added.

The debate came on the same day the European Parliament issued a joint motion for a resolution in the case of Alexei Navalny, among other topics.