Resolution on Russia, the arrest of Alexei Navalny and other protestors
The European Parliament adopted by 494 votes to 39, with 91 abstentions, a resolution on Russia, the arrest of Alexei Navalny and other protestors.
The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE and Greens/EFA groups.
Police condemned the police operations in the Russian Federation attempting to prevent and disperse peaceful anti-corruption demonstrations, and detaining hundreds of citizens, including Alexei Navalny, whose organisation initiated the demonstrations.
On 26 March 2017, between 33 000 and 93 000 people took part in anti-corruption rallies, marches and demonstrations in over 80 cities across Russia. Over 2 000 protesters were detained by police.
Members called on the Russian authorities for the immediate release of Alexei Navalny.
They condemned the constant efforts to silence Alexei Navalny, and expressed support for his organisation’s efforts to raise awareness of, and combat, corruption in public institutions and among political representatives and public office holders.
Underlining the fact that the sentences imposed on the demonstrators are politically motivated, Parliament raised doubts about the independence and impartiality of the judicial institutions of the Russian Federation and urged Russian judicial and law enforcement authorities to carry out their duties in an impartial and independent manner, free of political interference.
It also called on the Russian authorities to put an end to the harassment of journalists, political opponents and political and civil society activists, to fully respect international human rights obligations and to guarantee media freedom and freedom of assembly.
In the light of the corruption allegations against leading Russian politicians, Parliament called on the Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Member States to take systematic action against any attempted money laundering or illegal assets inside the EU. It equally instructed the Parliament’s Panama Papers Inquiry Committee to pay additional attention to any traces of suspect Russian money flows via EU-based banks.
Lastly, the resolution called for the development of a unified policy with a strong common message on the role of human rights in the EU-Russia relationship.