Further European countries summon Russian ambassador
Published: Tuesday, Feb 20th 2024, 01:50
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Following the death of imprisoned Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, France, Norway and the Netherlands have also summoned the Russian ambassador. French Foreign Minister Stéphane Sejourne announced the move on Monday during a visit to Argentina. "Vladimir Putin's regime has once again shown its true nature," said Sejourne, referring to the death of the Russian opposition figure in a penal colony.
Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the conversation with the Russian ambassador set out "Norway's views on the responsibility of the Russian authorities for Navalny's death". Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot stated in the online service X, formerly Twitter, that it was "terrible" that Navalny had paid for the fight for a free and democratic Russia with his life. She called for the body to be handed over to Navalny's family.
In response to Navalny's death, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania had already summoned the respective Russian ambassador. "The politically motivated proceedings" against Navalny and other members of the opposition showed "how brutally the Russian judiciary acts against dissidents", the Foreign Office in Berlin said on Monday. The UK had already summoned the Russian ambassador in London on Friday evening.
Switzerland does not appoint ambassador
A spokesperson for the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) told the Keystone-SDA news agency on Monday that there are no plans to summon the Russian ambassador to Switzerland.
The prominent Kremlin critic Navalny, who was considered Putin's most important domestic political opponent, died on Friday in a penal colony in the Russian polar region, according to the prison authorities. The reasons for his death are being investigated, they said.
The 47-year-old's death caused worldwide consternation. Numerous Western politicians blamed the Russian leadership and Putin himself for the death of the Kremlin critic. Moscow rejected the accusations.
©Keystone/SDA
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