The ruling of a court of the Russian Federation sentencing Alexei Navalny, an opposition politician, to prison, was to be expected. This is yet another step in the systematic restrictions to human rights and freedoms in Russia.
Charges against Navalny are politically motivated, and this has been recognized by the European Court of Human Rights on a number of occasions.
We repeat our call for Alexei Navalny be released immediately and we once again also ask that Russia honour its international commitments.
The European Union must respond, including through the application of sanctions against individuals who are involved in violating Alexei Navalny’s rights.