The European Parliament called on Russia to release Navalny
The European Parliament called Thursday on Russia to release the convicted person for 15 days of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, as well as other participants in an unauthorized protest.
“(The European Parliament) calls on the Russian authorities for the immediate release of Alexei Navalny and all peaceful demonstrators, journalists and activists who were arrested after demonstrations against corruption that was held in Moscow and in several Russian cities on March 26, and April 2, 2017, and withdraw charges against them; insists that the Russian authorities bear full responsibility for the safety and welfare of persons in custody”, — is spoken in the non-binding resolution adopted at the plenary session of the Assembly in Strasbourg.
The resolution was voted 494 MP, 39 against, 91 abstentions. The ballot aired the video service of the European Commission.
In the European Parliament resolution also condemned the actions of Russian police against the protesters.
An unauthorized rally was held last Sunday in Central Moscow. On Tverskaya street and the adjacent territories, according to police estimates, there were about 7-8 thousand people. According to the head of Department of regional security and combating corruption Moscow Vladimir Chernikov, was detained more than 600 people. During the action one of the officers received a severe head injury.
Earlier, the court in Moscow found Navalny guilty under article 19.3 of the administrative code (disobedience to the lawful demand of a police officer) and sentenced to 15 days of arrest. The court also 20 thousand rubles fined for organizing an unsanctioned event.