Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 66 together.

Ireland was shocked to hear of the sudden and unexpected death of prominent Russian opposition politician and anti-corruption activist, Alexei Navalny, while he was being held under a “special regime” in a prison in Yamal, north of the Arctic Circle, following his transfer there in December 2023.

Along with our EU partners, we have been clear that ultimate responsibility for his death rests with the Russian leadership, and have called for a full, independent and transparent investigation.

My EU counterparts and I met with Yulia Navalnaya at the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday 19 February, following which we discussed the circumstances surrounding his death, and the EU’s response. In a statement following the Council, the European Union stated that it would spare no effort in holding Russia’s political leadership and authorities to account, including through sanctions, and repeated its calls on Russia to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners.

Russia and the Russian leadership are already subject to the most expansive and hard-hitting sanctions in EU history, in response to the illegal invasion of Ukraine. Almost 2,000 individuals and entities are now subject to travel bans and asset freeze measures. The EU agreed a 13th package of sanctions against Russia in February 2024. The EU will continue to keep its sanctions under review, including in response to the death of Mr. Navalny, and the increasing crackdown on human rights and civil liberties in Russia. Ireland will support any further EU sanctions targeted specifically at those directly responsible for Mr. Navalny’s death.

As part of Ireland’s response to Mr Navalny’s death, the Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs, on my behalf, summoned the Russian Ambassador on 20 February. The Secretary General expressed the Government’s shock on behalf of the Government at the death of Mr. Navalny in a Russian penal colony on 16 February. He made clear that the circumstances of Mr. Navalny’s death raise further questions around respect for the rule of law in Russia, and reiterated the EU’s call for an independent and transparent international investigation into circumstances of his sudden death. Many EU Foreign Ministries similarly summoned the Russian Ambassador locally to express their condemnation at the death of Mr Navalny and to call for a full investigation.

Ireland considers that Mr Navalny’s arrest, prosecution, and sentencing were all politically motivated, and are a further indication of the deterioration in the human rights and rule of law situation in Russia. Ireland had consistently called for the release of Mr Navalny following his arrest and has associated itself with a number of EU statements condemning his conviction and imprisonment for carrying out legitimate political activities. The Irish Ambassador to Russia, along with a number of his EU counterparts, attended the funeral of Alexei Navalny on Friday 1 March, to pay his respects on behalf of Ireland.

I further condemn the arbitrary arrest of people mourning the death of Mr Navalny, including many of those who attended his funeral in Moscow. Ireland will continue to call for the unconditional and immediate release of all political prisoners in Russia.