Navalny recognized the risks involved, yet still chose to return to Russia with his wife, Yulia Navalnaya. Navalny had been receiving treatment for Novichok poisoning, which landed him in a coma during a trip in August 2020. From Berlin, Navalny’s team and a joint CNN-Bellingcat investigation revealed that the poisoning, most probably, was carried out by a group of clearly identifiable government agents.
As a result, Alexey Navalny was detained in passport control upon his arrival to Moscow on Sunday night.
– Navalny has shown admirable courage by returning into the hands of those who tried to kill him, said Secretary General of the NHC, Geir Hønneland. – That courage deserves recognition even by Russian authorities. They should immediately release Navalny, drop all charges and let him carry on with his peaceful, legitimate political work.
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Tikhanovskaya and NHC concerned
Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya is among those who have been forced to leave her home country for safety reasons. Meanwhile, she continues the political struggle in exile. In a comment, she said the detention of Navalny is a dangerous step towards depriving Russians of political alternatives.
The Norwegian Helsinki Committee shares Tikhanovskaya’s concern.
Many authoritarian regimes in the former Soviet Union have forced legitimate opposition out of the country and into exile. For instance, Belarus, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan are obvious examples. In conclusion; by risking his life and the happiness of his family, Navalny has taken a major step towards ensuring that Russia does not join this group of countries, and that the opposition remains where it belongs, at home.
Geir Hønneland, Secretary General of Norwegian Helsinki Committee
At least 53 people were arrested while waiting to meet Navalny at Vnukovo Airport, where he was supposed to land.
Russian authorities confirmed late Sunday night that Navalny had been arrested and will remain in custody until further notice. The European Court of Human Rights has previously and consequently ruled that earlier convictions were politically motivated. Therefore russian authorities will remain under scrutiny by human rights organizations worldwide and journalists, and the international community at large.