On 20 August we mark four years since the assassination attempt of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny in Russia by using a toxic nerve agent of the “Novichok” group, banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention, to which the Russian Federation is a State Party.

The assassination attempt, followed by Alexei Navalny’s return to Russia, accelerated a spiral of politically motivated measures against him, which led to his premature and still not fully investigated and clarified death in a strict-regime penal colony in February this year.

The ultimate responsibility for Alexei Navalny’s death lies with President Putin and the Russian authorities that put him in prison based on politically motivated charges and led a campaign of constant intimidation and mistreatment against him while behind bars.

Together with its partners, the European Union will continue to repeat its call on Russia to investigate the assassination attempt on Alexei Navalny in full transparency and without further delay, and to fully cooperate with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to ensure an impartial international investigation. The tragic death of Alexei Navalny does not relieve the Russian Federation of its obligation to provide answers to the questions posed under the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Sanctions have been imposed since 2020 against individuals and entities responsible for the poisoning, arbitrary arrest, prosecution and sentencing of Alexei Navalny. On 22 March this year, the Council imposed restrictive measures against 33 individuals and two entities linked to the death of Alexei Navalny.

Moreover, directly after his death, the Council adopted in May a new EU framework for restrictive measures against those responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses, repression of civil society and democratic opposition, and undermining democracy and the rule of law in Russia, together with a first package of 20 listings.

We will spare no efforts to hold the Russian political leadership and authorities to account for the treatment of Alexei Navalny and other political prisoners.