(GNB Desk): The United States strongly condemned Russia’s decision to arrest Aleksey Navalny, opposition party leader of Russia.
Navalny and his wife Yulia flew into Russia from Berlin, Germany for the first time since he was left fighting for life having been poisoned with the chemical weapon Noivchok five months ago.
But, Navalny was detained at airport in Moscow last night- learn more.
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s pick for national security adviser called on Russian authorities to free Navalny. “Mr. Navalny should be immediately released, and the perpetrators of the outrageous attack on his life must be held accountable,” Jake Sullivan said in a tweet.
The out going US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo led the condemnation of Moscow.
In a statement on Sunday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said “ The United States strongly condemns Russia’s decision to arrest Aleksey Navalny. We urge the Russian government to provide a level playing field for all political parties and candidates seeking to compete in the electoral process. Aleksey Navalny is not the problem. We demand his immediate and unconditional release, Pompeo said in the statement.
Full statement read as below :
The United States strongly condemns Russia’s decision to arrest Aleksey Navalny. We note with grave concern that his detention is the latest in a series of attempts to silence Navalny and other opposition figures and independent voices who are critical of Russian authorities.
Confident political leaders do not fear competing voices, nor commit violence against or wrongfully detain political opponents. The Russian people, like people everywhere, deserve a government that supports an open marketplace of ideas, transparent and accountable governance, an independent judiciary, and the ability to exercise their basic human rights of speech and assembly without fear of retribution.
We urge the Russian government to provide a level playing field for all political parties and candidates seeking to compete in the electoral process. Aleksey Navalny is not the problem. We demand his immediate and unconditional release.
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