World leaders condemn Navalny’s arrest in Russia

Several leaders across the world condemned the arrest of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who was detained by police on Sunday night as soon as he landed in Moscow for the first time after being treated in Germany for poisoning. Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) said that the opposition leader has been arrested over his failure to report to them as per the terms of a suspended sentence and probation period. US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said that the detention was the latest in a series of attempts to silence Navalny and other opposition figures who are critical of Russian authorities.  US diplomat urged the Russian government to provide a “level playing field” for candidates seeking to compete in the electoral process. Jake Sullivan, the national security advisor for president-elect Biden, called for the immediate release of Navalny.

Mr. Navalny should be immediately released, and the perpetrators of the outrageous attack on his life must be held accountable. The Kremlin’s attacks on Mr. Navalny are not just a violation of human rights, but an affront to the Russian people who want their voices heard.

— Jake Sullivan (@jakejsullivan) January 17, 2021

German Chancellor Angela Merkel  condemned Navalny’s “arbitrary” arrest and demanded his immediate release. Merkel’s spokesperson Steffen Seibert said that the Navalny’s arrest violates the principles of the rule of law. Calling Navalny a victim of “despicable crime”, UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab said that the arrest of the Russian leader was “appalling”. “Rather than persecuting Mr Navalny Russia should explain how a chemical weapon came to be used on Russian soil,” Raad said in a statement. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, condemned Navalny’s arrest and called on Russian authorities to immediately release him.