Lithuania stresses serious human rights situation in Russia in a joint statement on the death of Aleksey Navalny
On 29 February 2024 at the Permanent Council of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Lithuania’s Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna, Ambassador Vaidotas Verba speaking on behalf of 39 participating states called on Russia to stop its relentless attacks and repressions against opposition, independent journalists, and ordinary citizens exercising their freedom of expression.
“The sudden tragic death of the prominent opposition politician Alexei Navalny in a Russian penal colony, following years of detention in poor conditions which, according to UN experts, amounted to torture and ill-treatment, as well as unjust detentions and the use of excessive force against people peacefully mourning his death, heralds a grim level of state repression”, participating States have stressed in their statement. States called Russia to launch a full, independent, and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Participating states also stressed the dire situation of political prisoners in Russia, who face the persistent use of torture and ill-treatment, including prolonged detention in punitive isolation cells in cold and damp conditions, deprivation of access to adequate medical care, denial of access to their lawyers, as well as contacts with their family members. The Russian authorities where again called to immediately and unconditionally release all political opposition activists, human rights defenders, journalists, and other media actors.
The text of the joint statement is available here.
