**Western Leaders Condemn Russia on Alexei Navalny’s Anniversary**
February 16 marked the one-year anniversary of the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. His widow, Yuliya Navalnaya, and Western leaders spoke out against repression in Russia.
Navalny was arrested on politically motivated charges in January 2021 and later died in an Arctic penal colony in February 2024. Western countries, including Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, issued a joint statement condemning Russia’s human rights record.
**Russia Criticized for Human Rights Abuses**
The statement said that over 800 people are being held as political prisoners, with many facing torture and forced psychiatric detention. The countries also condemned Russia for holding peaceful dissenters and undermining the rule of law.
Russia was further criticized for using the threat of imprisonment to silence opposition to its war against Ukraine. Many people have been imprisoned for speaking out against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
**EU and US Leaders Speak Out**
European Union High Representative Kaja Kallas issued a statement saying that Navalny gave his life for a free and democratic Russia. She condemned Russia’s repression of civil society, media, and opposition figures.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Ukraine will have to be involved in any peace negotiations with Russia, as well as European countries, due to the sanctions imposed on Putin and Russia.
**Russia Training Troops in Belarus**
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine warned that Russia is training 150,000 troops in Belarus for a large-scale operation. He said there are risks that this could happen in Poland or Lithuania.
**EU Leaders to Meet in Paris**
European leaders will meet in Paris on February 17 for an emergency summit due to concerns about the US advancing peace talks with Russia without Europe. The EU has called on Russia to stop its brutal repression of civil society, media, and opposition figures.
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