(para 4 adjusted)
MOSCOW. Jan 20 (Interfax) - Relations between the European Union and Russia are at yet another low, in particular, due to Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny's situation, however, communications channels should remain open, Head of the EU Delegation to Russia Markus Ederer said.
"EU-Russia relations are yet at another low. The attempted assassination of Alexei Navalny with a chemical-weapons-grade agent, the lack of investigation of this crime by the Russian authorities, and then Navalny's arrest for violating parole provisions while he was recovering from the poisoning in Germany are declared unacceptable and condemned in the strongest possible terms by the European Union," Ederer said at a press briefing on Wednesday.
"The European Union will continue to base its relations with Russia on five principles adopted by the foreign ministers in 2016," he said.
"These five principles also apply also in the situation, which is strained and complicated as our relations are comprehensive and multifaceted. And this means that we need to keep communication channels open on the Navalny case and also on all other aspects of EU-Russia relationships," Ederer said.
As for the possibility of additional sanctions on Russia over Navalny's detention, Ederer said that any EU member state might put forward such a proposal, which, however, would need the approval of the entire union. He also noted that Navalny's detention will be discussed at a meeting of the EU's Foreign Affairs Council on January 25.