BRUSSELS/MOSCOW. Feb 4 (Interfax) - The European Union's attitude toward Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny's conviction by a Moscow court cannot be seen as interference in Russia's internal affairs, as Moscow has certain international obligations, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission Vice President Josep Borrell said.
"This is not about meddling in internal affairs; this is about universal principles and international commitments also vis-a-vis its [Russia's] own citizens that Russia signed up to as a member of the Council of Europe and a Participating State of the [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe] OSCE," Borrell said in an interview with Interfax.
The European Union immediately condemned the court's decision to imprison Navalny on February 2, he said.
"We believe that this decision is politically motivated. In 2017, the European Court of Human Rights had already determined that Mr. Navalny's conviction was unlawful and arbitrary," Borrell said.
"The EU's position on the case of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny is clear. The EU swiftly condemned the use of a chemical agent on Russian soil to poison him and imposed sanctions related to this assassination attempt. When he was arrested and detained upon his arrival back in Moscow, we called for his immediate release, along with the thousands of peaceful protestors and journalists since detained," Borrell said.
"Let us also recall, however, that the case of Mr. Navalny is not an isolated incident and unfortunately confirms a negative pattern of shrinking space, not only for the opposition, but also for civil society and independent voices in the Russian Federation," he said.