EU summons Russian envoy, calls for impartial Navalny dying probe

BRUSSELS: The European Union summoned Russia’s consultant to the EU and known as for an impartial worldwide investigation into the dying of opposition chief Alexei Navalny, the EU’s diplomatic service mentioned on Tuesday (Feb 20).

It mentioned Michael Siebert, a senior official within the European Exterior Motion Service, additionally urged Russia to launch Navalny’s physique to his household with out additional delay on the assembly with Kirill Loginov, Russia’s appearing everlasting consultant to the EU.

“The EU aspect conveyed the EU’s outrage over the dying of the Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, for which the final word accountability lies with President (Vladimir) Putin and the Russian authorities,” it mentioned.

Siebert “known as upon Russia to permit an impartial and clear worldwide investigation into circumstances” of Navalny’s dying, it added.

KREMLIN DENIES INVOLVEMENT

The Kremlin has denied involvement in Navalny’s dying and says Western allegations that Putin was accountable are unacceptable. Russia’s Investigative Committee says it has launched a procedural investigation into the dying, and the Kremlin has mentioned it doesn’t bow to EU calls for.

Navalny, 47, fell unconscious and died out of the blue on Friday after a stroll on the penal colony above the Arctic Circle the place he was serving a three-decade sentence, the Russian jail service mentioned.

The EU moved nearer on Monday to imposing new sanctions in opposition to Moscow over its struggle on Ukraine as Navalny’s widow visited Brussels. The US is ready to announce sanctions in opposition to Russia on Friday over Navalny’s dying.

The Belgian authorities additionally mentioned on Tuesday that it had summoned the Russian ambassador over Navalny’s dying and known as for an impartial investigation.