The ruling of a Moscow court passed in a session behind closed doors on 9 June 2021 on classifying a non-governmental organisation, “Foundation for Fighting Corruption”, led by Alexei Navalny, and civil society organisations supporting Navalny as extremist organisations is a politically motivated measure to suppress civil society.
Latvia strongly condemns the actions by Russia’s authorities denying the possibility for the general public to participate in the fight against corruption, cracking down on independent political opponents and destroying the socio-political movement by the leader of the opposition, Alexei Navalny. The ruling will further limit the chances of the opposition candidates to take part in the elections to the State Duma of Russia in September. This decision will have a far-reaching consequences for Russia’s civil society and its democratic freedoms and rights.
Latvia repeats its call on Russia to honour fundamental democratic values and its international commitments made in the OSCE and the Council of Europe. We also reiterate our demand to guarantee security and health to the wrongfully convicted opposition leader Alexei Navalny, to release him, and stop political persecution in compliance with rulings of the European Court of Human Rights.