"I am profoundly dismayed and outraged by the news of the sudden death of prominent Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalnyy in a Russian prison. The Russian authorities must conduct an immediate and thorough investigation and make the findings available to the public in line with their international obligations.
“At the same time, Mr Navalnyy’s tragic fate cannot be considered separately from the ordeal of human rights violations that he faced including the attempt on his life three years ago, a series of politically motivated criminal cases as well as his unjust imprisonment and detention in inhuman and degrading conditions. Unfortunately, previous Council of Europe calls to release him based on the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights which Russia has an obligation to implement went unheeded.
“By returning to Russia three years ago, Alexei Navalnyy bravely defied an unfree and unfair system based on repression and the brutal and repeated silencing of opponents. His resonant sacrifice is not only a stark reminder of Russia’s utter disregard for the human rights of its own citizens but also a testament to the heavy price of standing up for the values of human rights, democracy and rule of law.
“On behalf of the Council of Europe, I express heartfelt condolences and solidarity to his family and colleagues."
