According to a report by Agence France-Presse on March 4, 2024, recently, Russian opposition leader Alexei. Navalny's sudden death in a prison located inside the Arctic Circle shocked the international community. On March 4, a total of 43 countries demanded an independent international investigation into the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and said that Russian leader Vladimir Putin was ultimately responsible.
EU member states, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway expressed their outrage at Navalny's death at the UN Human Rights Council.
Navalny, 47, died in a prison in the Arctic Circle and was buried in Moscow on March 2, surrounded by mourners of resistance chanting his name.
EU Ambassador Lotte Knudsen told the UN human rights body on behalf of 43 countries: "We are outraged by the death of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, for which Putin and the Russian authorities are ultimately responsible." Russia must allow an independent and transparent international investigation into the circumstances of Navalny's sudden death".
He also believes that this is seen as "another sign of accelerated and systematic repression by Russia."
The countries said they were deeply concerned about the "systematic repression of civil society in Russia."
43 countries urge Russia to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, human rights defenders, journalists and anti-war activists detained for peacefully exercising their human rights and opposing Russia's war in Ukraine.
"We call on the Russian Federation to put an end to this climate in which everyone is at risk and to create a safe environment for political opposition and critical voices," the statement said. ”
They also urged Russia to "repeal oppressive legislation and end political abuse of the judiciary."
"Russia's political leadership and authorities must take responsibility," Lotte Knudsen said. Navalny's courage, sacrifice and unwavering commitment to the cause of justice, freedom and democracy will never be forgotten. ”
Putin's most hardened political opponent died on Feb. 16 when the Kremlin leader was campaigning to secure a new six-year term in mid-March elections, when he would face no real competition.
Volker Turk, the UN's human rights chief, said Navalny's death "exacerbated my grave fears about him."
In a global update to the Human Rights Council on Monday, Turk said Russian authorities had intensified their crackdown on opposition in preparation for this month's elections.
He noted that some candidates were prevented from running due to alleged administrative irregularities.
"Since Russia launched its war on Ukraine, thousands of politicians, journalists, human rights defenders, lawyers and those who voice their opinions on social media have faced administrative and criminal charges, a trend that appears to have worsened in recent months," he said. ”
He called for a review of all such cases and an "immediate end to the crackdown on independent voices."