The human rights organization Amnesty International (AI) no longer classifies the Kremlin critic Alexej Navalny as a political prisoner, but wants to continue campaigning for his release. Specifically, Navalny’s status as a „prisoner of conscience“ has been withdrawn, as an Amnesty spokeswoman said according to the dpa. To
In its justification today, Amnesty referred to earlier hateful comments by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s opponent. Navalny never distanced himself from the statements that were „on the borderline in defense of hatred,“ the organization said.
Condemnation „arbitrary and politically motivated“
Navalny was the victim of a poison attack about half a year ago and went to Germany for treatment. After his return to Moscow, the 44-year-old was sentenced to more than two and a half years in a prison camp for alleged violations of probation conditions.
The trial in which Navalny was convicted is still considered illegal by Amnasty. In this respect, the demand for the release of the Kremlin opponent also persists. Navalny’s condemnation was „arbitrary and politically motivated“,
No specific statements mentioned
Amnesty did not cite any specific statements from Navalny in the past. But the Kremlin critic had made anti-immigration statements at the beginning of his political career a good decade ago. At that time he took part in right-wing extremist and monarchist marches, turned against immigration from Central Asia and criticized the Muslim Caucasus republics.
This is „contrary to the definition of a political prisoner“ as applied by Amnesty, said the organization.
Amnesty admitted that there was no evidence that Navalny had spread hateful comments again in recent years. Navalny has made sure not to make any extremist statements in recent years. He justified the fact that he had done it earlier with his intention to address all currents of opposition to Putin.
