The European Court of Human Rights ruled that Russia should release Alexei Navalny

The European Court of Human Rights has decided to ask the Russian government to release opposition leader Alexei NavalniThe judicial body made a report on Wednesday through a statement on its website.

“On February 16, 2021, the Court decided to order the Russian government, in accordance with Rule 39 of the Rules of Court, to release the complainant. This measure will be applied with immediate effect “, get the release.

“The Court examined the nature and extent of the risk to the life of the complainant, demonstrated it At first glance for the purposes of applying the provisional measure and considered it in the light of the general circumstances of the applicant’s current detention. This measure was granted without prejudice to the Court’s decision on the merits of the present case and to the competence of the Committee of Ministers ”, the document continues.

Navalni was arrested by police at passport control at Sheremetievo Airport in Moscow on January 17., after arriving in Russia on a flight from Berlin, where he traveled to recover from a poisoning suffered in August 2020 that the opponent accuses the government of Vladimir Putin.

“I can tell you that I am completely happy to be back and that this is my best day in the last five months”Navalni said shortly before his arrest. From the plane, he reiterated his gratitude to Germany and, in particular, to the doctors and nurses who treated him during his convalescence.

Russia’s Federal Prison Service (FPS), which had issued a search and arrest warrant against the opposition politician, confirmed his arrest. They accuse him of not having respected the conditions of a 3.5-year suspended prison sentence imposed on him in 2014 and he has asked the courts to order his admission to prison.

Navalni also faces another trial in which he is accused to defame a 95-year-old WWII veteran.

The leader is accused of having published in June 2020 a video in which he describes as “sold” and “traitors” the protagonists of a recording which defended the constitutional amendments promoted by Putin, among them, the veteran Ignat Artemenko.

The old man’s grandson chased the opponent, who did not acknowledge their responsibility and accused relatives of having take advantage of the situation, “exchange” with your image.

(With information from EFE and Reuters)

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