In the light of Alexei Navalny's recent detention in Russia, the Ukrainian delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will bring up Russia's membership in PACE for discussion. Maria Mezentseva, the head of Ukraine's permanent delegation in the PACE posted that on Facebook.
"On January 19, a speech of Alexei Navalny was scheduled in the PACE Committee for Legal Affairs. Considering the latest events (his detention in Moscow, further stay in the remand center, and the court session appointed for January 29), it's unlikely that he participates... Our delegation will use all possible tools that the standing order foresees for further steps in terms of urgent debates and appeals against Russia's authorities, based on these events", Mezentseva said.
She added that the ECHR ordered Russia to pay Navalny more than 22,000 euros.
Alexei Navalny was detained upon arrival in Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow, as he was passing the passport control procedures. Prior to that, the politician stayed in Germany, being treated at the Charite clinic and recovering from the poisoning by Novichok nerve agent in August 2020. The Russian law enforcers prosecute Navalny for "evading control measures", as he is the defendant in the Yves-Rocher case (2014). Navalny himself calls the case trumped-up and politically motivated.
