The Biden government is “deeply concerned” about a Russian court’s decision Tuesday to sentence opposition leader Alexei Navalny to a 32-month prison term, officials said, reiterating their demand that Moscow Navalny and others detained for protesting his arrest should immediately would release.
“Like any Russian citizen, Mr. Navalny is entitled to the rights provided for in the Russian Constitution, and Russia has international obligations to respect equality before the law and the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” said Foreign Minister Antony Blink
Antony BlinkenBiden admin ‘deeply concerned’ about Russian court sentencing Navalny Navalny to 2.5 years in prison Senate confirms Buttigieg as transport secretary MORE said in a statement.
“Even if we work with Russia to advance US interests, we will work closely with our allies and partners to hold Russia accountable for not respecting the rights of its citizens,” added Blinken.
A court in Moscow ruled earlier Tuesday that Navalny should serve jail time for violating the terms of his 2014 parole. Russian prosecutors argued that he violated the terms of his release by failing to check in while recovering from a nervous attack. Germany last year. The US and other countries have blamed the Russian Federal Security Service for the poisoning of Navalny; Russia has denied involvement.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki
Jen PsakiWhite House says the Space Force’s work continues with Biden on immigration warrants: “I Eliminate Bad Policy” Biden offers condolences to families of FBI agents murdered in Florida. reiterated Blinken’s statement during a briefing Tuesday afternoon, saying the White House is “deeply concerned” about the decision to condemn Navalny and that the Russian government is calling on the release of Navalny and other Russians who have been unfairly detained. She did not specify any actions the US would take in response.
President Biden has commissioned a thorough analysis of Russian aggression, including Moscow’s involvement in the Navalny poisoning and SolarWinds hack, election interference, and reports of Russian bounties on US forces in Afghanistan.
That is an ongoing evaluation by the national security team. When they conclude that, they will… launch a policy process to determine what steps we will take from here, ”said Psaki.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Tuesday afternoon that officials are working “very quickly” on the comprehensive review and would not rule out action being taken in response to Russia’s handling of Navalny before the full review is completed. The assessment is led by the Director of National Intelligence April Haines
Avril HainesGrenell congratulates Buttigieg on his second openly gay cabinet member Biden admin ‘deeply concerned’ over Russian court sentencing of the Navalny Senate confirms Buttigieg as Transport Secretary MORE.
“The president has mandated his DNI to carry out this review just so we can get a holistic view of what the Russians have been up to over the years, so that we can ensure that our policy options, including sanctions, but not necessarily the magnitude are properly calibrated, ”Price told reporters.
Navalny received a 3.5-year suspended sentence for racketeering in 2014. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that Navalny’s 2014 conviction was politically motivated. He was arrested in Russia last month, sparking widespread protests across the country.
The Biden government has indicated that it intends to take a firm approach to confront Russian aggression, while also seeking to work with Moscow on issues of mutual concern, including agreeing to a five-year extension of the new START nuclear weapons treaty with Moscow because it is expiring. month. Biden spoke with Putin last week, urging Moscow’s treatment of Navalny, among other concerns.