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Poland summons Russian ambassador over Navalny's death

20.02.2024 18:30
Poland has summoned the Russian ambassador over the death of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.
Sergey Andreev, Russias ambassador to Poland.
Sergey Andreev, Russia's ambassador to Poland.Photo: PAP/Tomasz Gzell

The Polish foreign ministry said in a statement that it summoned Sergey Andreev on Tuesday and called on the Russian authorities to "take responsibility" for Navalny's death.

The Polish foreign ministry also said that it urged Russia's authorities to "conduct a full and transparent investigation to establish the circumstances and the cause of his death."

'Rising number of political prisoners in Russia'

"On 16 February 2024, the Russian prison service announced that Navalny died in a strict-regime penal colony," the Polish foreign ministry said in its statement. "As one of the leaders of the Russian opposition and civil society, Navalny was sentenced in a show trial to 19 years of imprisonment for alleged extremism," it added.

"It was reported that while serving the penalty, he was subjected to unjustified disciplinary measures, including long-term solitary confinement," the statement further said. 

"Together with the democratic international community, Poland notes with concern the rising number of political prisoners in Russia, many of whom are kept in penal colonies in appalling conditions that constitute a hazard to their life and health," the Polish foreign ministry stated.

It added: "The inhuman treatment of Navalny and his subsequent death are characteristic of the Russian authorities’ treatment of political prisoners, opposition activists, and human rights defenders It runs counter to democratic standards and violates their civil rights."

Justice for Ukraine

The Polish foreign ministry went on to say that Russia's authorities "demonstrate a total disregard for moral norms not only in the context of their treatment of the country’s civil society, but also in the ongoing war against Ukraine."

It called on Russia "to hold responsible the individuals who are to blame for the unlawful aggression against Ukraine, compensate its victims, and account for the crimes against the Ukrainian state and its civilian population."

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, starting the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II.

Tuesday is day 727 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, gov.pl