Check against delivery! 

President, Honourable Members of the European Parliament, 

On 16 February, we received very sad reports by the state-controlled Russian media of the sudden death of the Russian opposition politician and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny in Siberia. His tragic and unnecessary death was confirmed by his family and lawyer when they arrived the following day to this inhuman and grim penal colony, reminding us of dark Soviet times. 

Let me once again, on behalf of the European Union, express my deepest condolences to Mr Navalny’s family, children and friends and all those who worked with him for the benefit of their country. We admire the bravery of Mr Navalny. 

The European Union has repeatedly called on the Russian authorities for his immediate and unconditional release pointing to the dangerous conditions where he and other Russian political prisoners are held. Our colleagues in Moscow have tried, in vain, to reach out to Russian authorities on his case. They have been observing the politically motivated court hearings in Moscow. 

Through his life, Alexei Navalny demonstrated incredible courage and determination, through his anti-corruption work across Russia, spreading a message that inspired many, especially young people. He represented the possibility of a different Russia. 

In October 2020, the European Union was the first to adopt sanctions to respond to the assassination attempt of Mr Navalny, after he was poisoned with a toxic nerve agent. Moreover, the very first listings in March 2021 adopted under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime were also related to the case of Mr Navalny. Since then, we have further expanded our sanctions addressing his case and we will continue to do so in response to his death.   

These sanctions are also meant to complement other tools: the European Union’s substantial support to civil society, human rights defenders and independent media inside and outside Russia.  

The European Union is committed to continue supporting NGOs, civil society organisations, human rights defenders and independent journalists. Russian NGOs receive support from the European Union, for example for legal defence for political prisoners including citizens participating in anti-war demonstrations. 

Russian human rights defenders also receive EU support, for temporary relocation, trainings and urgent practical assistance, and for monitoring the human rights situation in Russia. The European Union supports Russian-language independent media and journalists. 

We will continue keeping the international pressure on Russia for the human rights violations and supporting individuals, including through trial observation. Mr Navalny’s death makes us even more committed to continue this essential support. 

Honourable Members, 

We join international calls by the UN Secretary General [António Guterres] and other UN bodies on Russia to allow for a full, transparent and credible investigation. We also urge Russia to immediately and unconditionally release all other political prisoners. Mr Navalny’s death is yet another sign of the accelerating and systematic repression in Russia.  

Our answer will be our continued and substantial support to Russian civil society, human rights defenders and independent media inside and outside Russia, and to hold those responsible of Navalny’s death to account. 

Thank you. 

Link to the video (starting at 5:46) : https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-253384  

Closing remarks  

Honourable Members, 

I have taken note of your comments and concerns, and I will convey them to High Representative/Vice-President [Josep] Borrell. 

As you know, five days ago, the 13^th package of sanctions against Russia was adopted. It required unanimity and it will not remain the last one.  

Russia’s illegal, unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine has amplified internal repression, severely curtailing the freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and expression, drastically limiting media freedom, introducing war censorship and fundamentally undermining the independence of the judiciary and the fair trial guarantees. We repeat calls on Russia to fully implement all rulings of the European Court of Human Rights.  

On behalf of High Representative/Vice-President Borrell, I can assure you that we will continue to call upon the Russian authorities to uphold their domestic and international obligations to respect, protect and fulfil human rights, including to uphold the rights of persons belonging to minorities and persons in vulnerable situations. 

We will continue to call on the Russian Federation to fully cooperate with the United Nations and all special procedures related to the human rights situation in the Russian Federation. 

This is not only our moral obligation, but so much more. It defines who we are and what do we believe in. Our shared values make us stronger together.

Thank you. 

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-253386