We all have to carry on Alexei Navalny's struggle for justice and freedom

The Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament strongly condemns the murder of Alexei Navalny and calls on the EU to implement targeted sanctions against those involved in and responsible for the politically motivated trials against him, his sentencing, imprisonment and detention conditions, including the prosecutors and judges, prison staff and those responsible for his premature death.

Our political group fully endorses Yulia Navalnaya in her determination to continue the work her husband initiated with her support, as well as the Anticorruption Foundation founded by Navalny.

In a resolution today debated in plenary, Renew Europe demands an independent and transparent international investigation into the exact circumstances of and the responsibilities for the death of Alexei Navalny, who must have a dignifying funeral ceremony according to his family’s wishes.

Renew Europe calls on the Council to create a special function of envoy for political prisoners and hostages in Russia in order to coordinate and intensify Member States’ efforts to find feasible ways of freeing especially those who are sick or tortured, including the option of possible exchanges of imprisoned individuals. The EU needs a proactive, long-term strategic policy towards Russia that effectively responds to the reality of EU-Russia relations today, the human rights situation and the needs for support of the Russian civil society and opposition representatives in exile.

Renew Europe MEP, Bernard Guetta (Délégation L’Europe Ensemble, France), shadow rapporteur on Russia, said:

"The sacrifice of Alexei Navalvy compels us to immediately deliver Taurus and Mirage to the Ukrainians, to tell those elected officials supporting Trump that history will soon have placed them in the camp of cowards and to stop Vladimir Putin and his assassins from doing harm."