"I am seriously concerned about the increasingly repressive attempts to silence legitimate criticism from opponents, activists and ordinary citizens as Russia continues its brutal aggression against Ukraine. The Council of Europe will continue to stand in full solidarity with them and support their human rights in all the ways it can in line with its mandate.
"As the Council of Europe has reiterated on several occasions, Alexei Navalnyy - pursuant to the European Court of Human Rights interim measures of 16 February 2021 - and Vladimir Kara-Murza must be released without delay. The Russian authorities also remain under an unconditional obligation to shed light into the previous attempts on their life.
"I am dismayed by the extent to which the fair trial and due process safeguards as well as other rights of the two opposition politicians continue to be manifestly violated by the Russian authorities. The consistent failure to administer justice in an impartial way lays bare the arbitrary and ill-founded nature of the proceedings leaving little doubt as to the politically retributive goal behind their convictions."
