On 16 February 2024, the Russian prison service announced that Navalny died in a strict-regime penal colony. As one of the leaders of the Russian opposition and civil society, Navalny was sentenced in a show trial to 19 years of imprisonment for alleged extremism. It was reported that while serving the penalty, he was subjected to unjustified disciplinary measures, including long-term solitary confinement.

Together with the democratic international community, Poland notes with concern the rising number of political prisoners in Russia, many of whom are kept in penal colonies in appalling conditions that constitute a hazard to their life and health. Among these are the leading representatives of the Russian opposition, including Vladimir Kara-Murza and Ilya Yashin.

The inhuman treatment of Navalny and his subsequent death are characteristic of the Russian authorities’ treatment of political prisoners, opposition activists, and human rights defenders. It runs counter to democratic standards and violates their civil rights.

The authorities of the Russian Federation demonstrate a total disregard for moral norms not only in the context of their treatment of the country’s civil society, but also in the ongoing war against Ukraine. Poland calls on Russia to hold responsible the individuals who are to blame for the unlawful aggression against Ukraine, compensate its victims, and account for the crimes against the Ukrainian state and its civilian population.