Moscow: The European Union’s top diplomat said on Friday that the inappropriate treatment of Russia’s opposition leader Alexei Navalny was being treated in Brussels and Moscow. There is a “low point” in the relationship.
Days after Navalny was sentenced to nearly three years in Russia, the EU’s head of foreign affairs Joseph Borel met with Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. Russia is being blamed in the international community for ordering Navalny to be sent to prison. Borel said before meeting Lavrov in Moscow, “Certainly, our relationship is under stress and the Navalni issue is a low point in our relationship.”
Navalny, an investigative anti-corruption investigator, and critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin was arrested last month after returning to Russia from Germany. Navalny spent five months in Germany for treatment after a ‘Nerve Agent’ venom attack. They allege that the Kremlin had a hand in attacking them, which Russian officials have rejected.
Burrell said after the meeting that he made Lavrov aware of his concerns over Navalny being imprisoned and the thousands of protests arrested on his behalf. The EU official also said that he also informed Lavrov of the release of Navalny and the European Union’s support for the investigation of the toxin attack on him in August.
