"We have expressed our deep concern about the situation of Alexey Navalny, we have asked for his release and an investigation into what happened
. We respect the sovereignty of Russia to the utmost, but
human rights and the rule of law are central to the common future
".
This was stated by the High Representative for EU Foreign Policy Josep
Borrell
at a press conference in Moscow with Russian Minister Serghei Lavrov.
Relations between Russia and the European Union have reached "a critical point" also because of the Navalny case, Borrell said at the opening of his meeting with Lavrov.
"But we're connected. And despite our differences, building a wall of silence is not an option," added Borrell.
The situation that has developed between Russia and the European Union is "unhealthy",
Lavrov said, "we are both stakeholders in the Eurasian region. Today we have the opportunity to have a frank conversation among ourselves, to address this point" .
Russia "builds its life based on the fact that
the EU is an unreliable partner
, at
least at this stage
", Lavorv said according to the Interfax news agency.
Lavrov called the possibility of EU sanctions against Moscow in the Navalny case "an internal question of the EU" and said that the EU "increasingly resorts to unilateral restrictions that have no legitimate basis".