Laima Liucija Andrikienė, MP, speaks out at the PACE plenary sitting: Russian authorities have gone beyond all reasonable limits

Press release, 28 January 2021

Laima Liucija Andrikienė, Member of the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrat (TS-LKD) Political Group of the Seimas, speaking at an online plenary sitting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), called on the PACE to condemn the actions of the Russian authorities against the oppositionist Alexei Navalny and other citizens detained during the weekend protests in Russia.

‘Alexei Navalny continues to reside in Russia. As a young and strong oppositionist, he fights for a democratic Russia and opposes corruption and impunity. Therefore, he deserves our understanding and support. Navalny has to be freed (...). However, Navalny’s life is in danger. We see brutal attempts to silence him. It is therefore high time to call on the Russian authorities to put an end to persecution, intimidation of, violence and repression against dissidents and heralds of freedom and to halt impunity in the country where many journalists, human rights activists and opposition politicians have already lost their lives,’ Ms Andrikienė said at the PACE meeting.

The Lithuanian representative noted that Russia had exceeded all acceptable or justifiable limits.

‘The recent developments in Russia, including the detention, in Moscow Airport, of Mr Navalny, survivor of a poisoning attempt with Novichok, the Soviet-era nerve agent; the use of brutal force against peaceful demonstrators in Moscow, St Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Chita and many other cities in Russia, where 3.500 people were arrested and detained subsequent to the peaceful marches on Saturday; as well as other facts we witnessed over the recent days and months, go beyond all permissible limits, cross all the red lines, and demonstrate that the Russian authorities completely and insolently ignore their international obligations on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, to say nothing of the grave violations of international agreements on chemical weapons,’ Ms Andrikienė said.

Ms Andrikienė also called on PACE members to limit Russia’s PACE mandate.

‘A week ago, Navalny was not allowed to address the PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights. However, at the very same time, the parliamentary delegation of the Russian Federation was allowed to re-join the PACE. The Council of Europe in general and the Parliamentary Assembly in particular must strictly condemn Russian Federation’s conduct which is incompatible with the status of a member of the Council of Europe, in other words, incompatible with CE membership. We must not shirk away from our responsibility and our mission to defend human rights, strengthen democracy and implement the rule of law everywhere, including Russia,’ Ms Andrikienė underlined.

Public relations of TS-LKD, tel. +370 5 239 6362, e-mail: [email protected]