EU imposes sanctions in wake of Alexei Navalny's death
"The foreign ministers of EU countries have agreed on sanctions against Russia in connection with the death of opposition figure Alexei Navalny," reported the Brussels correspondent for RMF FM. On Sunday, for the first time, Putin mentioned Alexei Navalny by name and surname, uttering disturbing words.
In mid-February, the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, announced that the member states of the European Union would indeed propose sanctions concerning Navalny's death. He added, Vladimir Putin holds the greatest responsibility for the death of the Russian opposition figure.
Blacklist for prosecutors and judges
According to RMF FM, the final decision on sanctions is expected in the next few days. The "blacklist" will include 30 individuals - officers from penal colonies, judges, and prosecutors. Their accounts in European banks will be frozen, and they will also be barred from entering the EU. Poland has advocated for sanctions in response to the death of Alexei Navalny.
Putin feared Navalny
The fact that Putin was deeply afraid of Alexei Navalny is demonstrated by his decision to mention the deceased opposition figure by name and surname only after his death and the sham election. The dictator made an appearance at the headquarters of the Central Election Commission on Sunday evening, merely four hours after the polls had closed.
"The tsar" after the rigged charade associated with the mock voting took the stage and proclaimed himself president. It was then that the cynical comments about Navalny were made.
Putin's cynical remarks. He did it for the first time
"For the first time, he spoke about the death of the politician in the penal colony and for the first time publicly used Navalny's name, referring to his death as a 'sad event'" - according to the Russian edition of the BBC.
- Yes, he died. It's always a sad event. There were other instances where people died. Did that not occur in the USA? - quipped Putin, confirming that a few days before Navalny's death "he had agreed to a proposal to exchange Navalny to the West."
- The idea was to exchange Navalny for individuals in Western countries. I agreed, we wanted to exchange him so he wouldn't come back (to Russia - editor's note), but things turned out differently, such is life - Putin said.
Navalny's colleagues promptly responded to these remarks. "I am lost for words. What cynical, deceitful scum. Beyond belief" - wrote Maria Pevchikh.
The mysterious death in a Russian penal colony
On February 16, the Russian prison authorities announced that Navalny, who had been imprisoned for three years, died in a penal colony beyond the Arctic Circle. The Russian opposition figure was 47 years old.
The statement from the Russian services indicated that Navalny became ill almost immediately after going for a walk and lost consciousness. "Medical staff at the penal institution arrived at the scene immediately, an ambulance was called. Despite all necessary resuscitation efforts being made, they failed to revive him" - was stated.
Navalny, who died under mysterious circumstances in a camp where he was serving a 19-year sentence and could have faced up to 30 years in prison, was mourned by thousands.
