Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the recent reports of the abuse of Alexei Navalny; and if he will take diplomatic steps to help secure his immediate release.
The UK condemns the continuing politically motivated detention of Alexei Navalny. We continue to urge the Russian authorities to release Mr Navalny immediately and unconditionally, as required by the February 2021 decision of the European Court of Human Rights. HMG officials are in regular contact with Mr Navalny's team, and where possible, attend his court hearings. The UK has repeatedly called for Mr Navalny's release, including through the Foreign Secretary's statement to the UN Human Rights Council on 27 February 2023. We will continue to seek opportunities for further statements in support of Mr Navalny.