EU: Putin responsible for Navalny’s death
FRANCE: The European Parliament said on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin bore the “criminal and political responsibility” for opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s death and should be held to account for it.
.AVALNY ONE OF 0UTIN S kERCEST critics, died in prison on February 16 in unclear circumstances, but EU leaders have blamed the Russian president.
“The Russian government and Vladimir Putin personally bear criminal and political responsibility for the death of their most prominent opponent, Alexei Navalny,” the parliament said in a resolution passed with 506 votes in the 705-seat assembly.
Putin “should be held accountable,” it said.
Only nine lawmakers voted against the resolution. The lawmakers also called for an “independent and transparent international investigation” into the circumstances of Navalny’s death.
In addition, the parliament asked the EU’s 27 member states to “intensify” support for Russian political prisoners and continue backing the democratic opposition in Russia.
Navalny’s funeral will be held on Friday in a Moscow church.
His widow, Yulia Navalnaya, told the European Parliament on Wednesday that she feared the event could be marred by disruption and arrests.
Meanwhile, hearse drivers were said to have refused in taking Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny’s body from the morgue to his funeral on Friday after receiving threats, his allies said.
Since the Kremlin critic’s death in prison almost two weeks ago, his team has accused authorities of trying to prevent him from having A DIGNIkED PUBLIC BURIAL
“What a disgrace. Now the hearse drivers refuse to take Alexei from the morgue,” said Ivan Zhdanov, an exiled ally who managed Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, on Thursday.
Navalny’s spokesman Kira Yarmysh said funeral directors had received threatening calls from “unknown people” warning them not to transport Navalny’s body anywhere.
Details of the funeral and how many mourners will be allowed to attend have remained unclear.