UK and 38 OSCE States Demand Release of Political Prisoners and Probe into Navalny's Death in Joint Statement

Flags of the OSCE participating States (OSCE/Mikhail Evstafiev)

In a resounding joint statement to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the United Kingdom and 38 participating states have called for the immediate release of political prisoners in Russia and a thorough investigation into the tragic death of prominent opposition figure Alexei Navalny. The statement, delivered on behalf of countries invoking the Moscow Mechanism, highlights the escalating repression in Russia and condemns the disregard for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The Moscow Mechanism, invoked on July 28, 2022, had already revealed Russia's systemic violations of human rights and the stifling of civil society. The recent death of Alexei Navalny in a Russian penal colony has intensified concerns, with the UK and other states urging Russia to release unjustly detained individuals and conduct an impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding Navalny's death.

The statement emphasizes the dire situation faced by political prisoners in Russia, including allegations of torture, ill-treatment, and sexual and gender-based violence. The conditions in which detainees like Navalny are held, described as potentially amounting to torture, underscore the urgency of the call for release and investigation. The plight of Vladimir Kara-Murza, a key opposition figure serving a 25-year sentence in Siberia despite serious health conditions, is particularly highlighted.

The joint statement condemns the sentencing of political activists, human rights defenders, and journalists, including Oleg Orlov, Alexey Gorinov, and Maria Ponomarenko, among others. It strongly denounces the criminalization of actions perceived as supporting LGBTI persons in Russia.

Reiterating the commitment to remind Russia of its international obligations, the statement urges the OSCE to prioritize critical human rights issues in Russia, emphasizing their impact on democratic stability, peace, and security in the OSCE region. The signatories express admiration and support for Russian civil society, which continues to work under challenging conditions for a free, democratic Russia.

The joint statement concludes with a stern message, calling for an end to Russia's attacks and repressions against dissidents, journalists, and citizens exercising their freedom of expression. It warns that policies aimed at suppressing civil society will have lasting consequences, emphasizing that there is no future in violence and repression.