Demonstrators calling for the release of Navalny, January 18, 2021. -

Sergei Bobylev / TASS

To force Vladimir Putin to release the opponent Alexeï Navalny and his supporters, arrested Saturday during demonstrations, the European Union plans to adopt sanctions against Russia, announced several European officials on Monday.

“The European Union must send a very clear and decisive message that this is not acceptable.

We have a sanctions regime for human rights and I think it should be used, ”argued Lithuanian foreign minister Gabrielus Landsbergis.

"We are going to discuss the adoption of sanctions and we will see what the result of this discussion will be," added his Romanian counterpart Bogdan Aurescu.

The agenda for the meeting of foreign ministers

The ministers could give a mandate to Josep Borrell, the head of European diplomacy, to present them with options for actions, including sanctions, in order to obtain the release of Alexeï Navalny, a European diplomat said.

The EU had given a mandate on Saturday to Josep Borrell to condemn "the mass detentions" and "the disproportionate use of force" during the demonstrations in Russia demanding the release of the opponent Alexeï Navalny and asked him to register the subject on the agenda of the meeting of foreign ministers.

"The principles of the rule of law must also apply in Russia and we expect that those who demonstrated peacefully, and that there is no reason to detain, are also released immediately," insisted on his arrival. the head of German diplomacy Heiko Maas.

A release to improve diplomatic relations

The Europeans have been demanding for a week the release of Alexeï Navalny, arrested on January 17 when he returned to Moscow after being treated in Germany following poisoning with a nerve agent.

The EU has sanctioned several members of the Russian president's entourage for their alleged involvement in the assassination attempt.

European Council President Charles Michel called Vladimir Putin on Friday to request his release.

“Free Navalny would allow a new and better relationship between the European Union and Russia.

We would talk about cooperation with Russia today and tomorrow instead of sanctions ”, underlined Monday the head of the Luxembourg diplomacy Jean Asselborn.

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