Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny is taking part in a rally to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the assassination of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov and to protest against proposed amendments to the country’s constitution, in Moscow, Russia, on February 29, 2020.
Shamil Zhumatov | Reuters
WASHINGTON – Foreign Minister Anthony Blinken has condemned the “continued use of harsh tactics” by Russian authorities against peaceful protesters who took to the streets across Russia on Sunday to release opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
For the second consecutive weekend, tens of thousands nationwide rallied in an effort to raise awareness for Navalny, an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was detained by authorities earlier this month.
According to a monitoring group, more than 4,500 people were detained by Russian authorities for participating in the protests.
“We renew our call for Russia to release those detained for exercising their human rights, including Aleksey Navalny,” Blinken wrote in a tweet.
Last year, Navalny was medically evacuated from a Russian hospital to Germany after falling ill following reports that something had been added to his tea. Russian doctors who treated Navalny denied that the Kremlin critic was poisoned and blamed his comatose state on low blood sugar levels.
In September, the German government said the 44-year-old Russian dissident had been poisoned by a chemical nerve agent, describing the toxicological report as “unequivocal evidence”. The nerve agent was in the family of Novichok, developed by the Soviet Union.
The Kremlin has repeatedly denied that it played a role in Navalny’s poisoning.
Earlier this month, Navalny flew from Berlin, Germany, to Russia where he has been recovering for almost half a year since being poisoned last summer. He was arrested during passport control.
Russian authorities have issued a warrant for Navalny’s arrest, alleging he violated the terms of a suspended three-and-a-half-year sentence he received in 2014 for trespassing.
“Mr Navalny should be released immediately, and the perpetrators of the outrageous attack on his life should be held accountable,” Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, wrote on Twitter on the heels of the arrest.
Last week, Blinken expressed ‘deep concern’ over the treatment of Navalny and the broader human rights situation in Russia.
“It remains striking to me how concerned, and perhaps even frightened, the Russian government appears to be of one man, Mr Navalny,” Blinken told reporters at a news conference on Wednesday.
The newly confirmed US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, addresses reporters during his first press briefing on January 27, 2021 at the State Department in Washington.
Carlos Barria | Reuters
“Across the board, as the President has said, we are going after all these actions that are of serious concern to us, whether it be the treatment of Mr. Navalny is and especially the apparent use of a chemical weapon in an attempt to kill him. , “added the country’s top diplomat.
Blinken also said Wednesday that the Biden government is reviewing the hack on SolarWinds, reports of abundance that Russia has placed on U.S. forces in Afghanistan, and possible interference in the election.
Biden has previously promised “to work with our allies and partners to hold the Putin regime accountable for its crimes.” He also previously accused the Trump administration of not taking a tough enough stance on Moscow.