The European Union condemned the expulsion of diplomats from Russia and opened the door for a response to Navalny’s verdict

European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, last Saturday condemned the expulsion of three diplomats from Germany, Poland and Sweden reportedly for participating in illegal demonstrations in support of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and opened the door to a response from the bloc.

High Representative Borrell strongly condemns the decision of the Russian authorities to expel three European diplomats and reject the charges of activities inconsistent with their status as foreign diplomats, ”Borrell’s Foreign Action Service, led by Borrell, published in a statement following the end of his visit to Russia, from 4 to 6 February.

“They did not manifest”but is doing his job of ‘observing’ the situation in Russia through the Navalni case, said the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Policy

“I am really upset and submitted my rejectionTo Russia’s measure and the country’s arguments, added the Vice President of the European Commission (EC), who heard the news with the Russian minister over lunch and immediately asked for clarification.

So, He called on Moscow to “reconsider” the deportations and stressed “the unity and solidarity of the European Union with the affected Member States”.

As for the visit itself, Borrell has defended the need for “diplomatic channels to remain open, not only to reduce the intensity of crises or incidents, but also to maintain direct contact and to convey firm and frank messages, even more so when relationships are far from satisfactory ”.

Borrell also told Russian authorities that “the grave “EU” concern about the deterioration of human rights in Russia and deliberate attempts to silence critical voices, NGOs and civil society.

In particular, Borrell condemned “the recent conviction against Alexei Navalny after his illegal detention and after the assassination attempt with a chemical nerve gas on Russian soil ”. Therefore, the EU hopes that Navalny will be “released immediately and unconditionally”, as well as the people “arbitrarily detained” during the recent protests in support of him.

EU Foreign Ministers will discuss the implications of the ruling against Navalny and future EU action, which has already sanctioned the use of banned chemical weapons after the Foreign Affairs Council this month, ”added Borrell’s office.

However, in statements to television Euronews, Borrell softened those statements and confirmed that no new sanctions are currently being considered. “At this time there are no proposals, but things can change. We will see next week. It can be considered. There is nothing off the table, ”he said.

The appointment is forthcoming February 22. “I am going to update my EU colleagues on the outcome of my visit to the Foreign Affairs Council on 22 February, where there will be a specific debate on EU-Russia relations in view of the strategic debate at the European Council in March, ”explains Borrell.

Before you leave Moscow, Borrell visited the site in the city center where the opposition Boris Nemtsov was murdered six years ago and paid tribute to him.

With information from EuropaPress and EFE

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