European Union foreign ministers will consider possible “next steps” against Russia after Western countries condemned the Kremlin’s harsh treatment of protesters calling for the release of opposition politician Alexei Navalny.
The United States, the EU and Britain also criticized Vladimir Putin’s government on Sunday with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, describing the mass arrest of thousands of protesters in various cities in Russia as ” an intolerable affront “and a” fall towards authoritarianism “.
Clashes broke out in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok and other cities on Sunday and some protesters clashed with the riot squad with body armor and helmets. Dozens of people were injured.
Poland’s President Andrzej Duda asked the EU to step up sanctions against Russia for the treatment of Navalny, who was arrested last weekend when he was returning from Germany to Russia for the first time since he was poisoned with a nervous agent.
“The only way to [avoid conflict] is to enforce international law. The only way to do this without rifles, cannons and bombs is through sanctions, ”Duda told the Financial Times.
The Polish leader also said EU head of foreign affairs Josep Borrell should reconsider plans to visit Russia next month, unless Navalny is released.
EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss their response to Navalny’s arrest on Monday, with Borrell saying the “next steps” will be discussed.
Manfred Weber, a senior German conservative and head of the center-right EPP group in the EU parliament, told Germany’s RND newspaper group that the arrest of protesters should not be tolerated and that Russia must face financial sanctions.
“It is unacceptable that the Russian leadership is trying to curb growing protests by arresting thousands of protesters.
“EU chancellors are not allowed to dodge again and stop at general appeals,” said Weber. “The EU needs to reach where it really hurts Putin’s system – and that is the money,” said Weber, adding that the bloc must cut financial transactions from Putin’s inner circle.
In addition, a threat to stop the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which aims to double natural gas deliveries from Russia to Germany, must remain on the table, added Weber.
A German government spokeswoman declined to comment when asked whether Berlin was willing to support new sanctions against Russia after Navalny’s arrest.
EU lawmakers passed a resolution on Thursday calling on the bloc to stop completing the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in response to Navalny’s arrest.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who continued to support the project despite criticism elsewhere in the EU, said on Thursday that her view of the project has not changed despite the Navalny case.
During the protests, a spokeswoman for the US Embassy in Moscow, Rebecca Ros, said on Twitter that “the United States supports the right of everyone to peaceful protest and freedom of expression. The measures taken by the Russian authorities are suppressing those rights ”. The embassy also tweeted a statement from the state department calling for Navalny’s release.
Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the US comments were “inappropriate” and accused Washington of “interfering in our internal affairs”.