On 20 August 2020, opposition politician Alexei Navalny suffered an attack in Russia that he only narrowly survived. Despite this, Alexei Navalny, whose anti-corruption foundation opposes a self-serving mentality and kleptocratic practices among his country’s political elite, returned to Russia on 15 January 2021.
Because the Russian authorities have for two years now not only disregarded their international obligation to investigate the murder attempt that employed an internationally banned chemical warfare agent, the alleged perpetrators face neither detention nor punishment. It is Alexei Navalny who was imprisoned upon his return to Russia, who was convicted on politically motivated charges, whose prison sentence was arbitrarily extended by nine years in March, and whose anti-corruption network faces repression under the pretext of terrorism charges.
On this anniversary, we once again emphatically demand his release.
We express our respect for him, and for the brave people who are fighting for democracy in Russia and who condemn Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.