As of: February 19, 2024, 12:05 p.m
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Demonstrators gather with signs in front of the Russian embassy in Berlin after the death of Alexei Navalny.
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
The federal government is calling on Russia to fully clarify the circumstances of Navalny's death in a Siberian prison camp and also to release the body to the family.
Berlin - After the death of the Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, the Foreign Ministry in Berlin summoned the Russian ambassador this Monday.
This was announced by a spokeswoman for the Foreign Office.
The politically motivated proceedings against Navalny and numerous other critics of the Russian government and the inhumane prison conditions show how brutally the Russian justice system acts against dissidents and the means with which President Vladimir Putin suppresses freedom of expression in Russia, said the spokeswoman.
“We condemn this in the strongest possible terms and expressly call for the release of all those imprisoned in Russia for political reasons.”
The federal government called on Russia to fully clarify the circumstances of Navalny's death in a Siberian prison camp and also to release the body to the family, as government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said.
In addition, impunity-free commemoration should be the minimum.
Navalny has been imprisoned since 2021
It had previously become known that Germany and other EU states wanted to introduce further sanctions against Russia after Navalny's death.
A special EU sanctions instrument should be used to punish serious human rights violations, explained Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) at the start of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
Navalny died in Russian camp custody.
His death was confirmed on Saturday by his spokeswoman.
The Russian penal system had previously informed about Navalny's death, who had been imprisoned since 2021.
dpa