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Motion for a resolution - B8-0246/2017Motion for a resolution
B8-0246/2017

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Russia, the arrest of Alexei Navalny and other protestors

4.4.2017 - (2017/2646(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure

Elena Valenciano, Victor Boştinaru, Soraya Post, Knut Fleckenstein on behalf of the S&D Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0245/2017

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.
Procedure : 2017/2646(RSP)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
B8-0246/2017
Texts tabled :
B8-0246/2017
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Texts adopted :

B8‑0246/2017

European Parliament resolution on Russia, the arrest of Alexei Navalny and other protestors

(2017/2646(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous reports and resolutions on Russia, in particular its resolution , of 23 October 2012 on common visa restrictions for Russian officials involved in the Sergei Magnitsky case, of 13 June 2013 on the rule of law in Russia, of 13 March 2014 on Russia: sentencing of demonstrators involved in the Bolotnaya Square events, and the European Parliament recommendation to the Council of 2 April 2014 on establishing common visa restrictions for Russian officials involved in the Sergei Magnitsky case, of 23 October 2014 on the closing-down of the NGO ‘Memorial’ (winner of the 2009 Sakharov Prize) in Russia (2014/2903(RSP)); of 12 March 2015 on the murder of the Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov and the state of democracy in Russia (2015/2592(RSP)), of 10 June 2015 on the state of EU-Russia relations (2015/2001(INI)), of September 2016 on Russia in particular the case of Eston Kohver, Oleg Sentzov and Alexander Kolchenko, and of 23 November 2016 on the case of Ildar Dadin, prisoner of conscience in Russi;

– having regard to the Russian Constitution, and in particular to its Article 29, which protects freedom of speech, and Article 31, which includes the right to peaceful assembly,

–  having regard to the existing Agreement on partnership and cooperation establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of one part, and the Russian Federation, of the other part (PCA) and, as well, the suspended negotiations for a new EU-Russia agreement,

–  having regard to the ‘Partnership for Modernisation’ initiated in 2010 in Rostov-on-Don and to the commitment made by the Russian leadership to the rule of law as a fundamental basis for the modernisation of Russia,

– having regard to the results of the EU-Russia Summit of 3 and 4 June 2013 and the human rights consultations of 28 November 2013,

–  having regard to its recommendation of 2 February 2012 to the Council on a consistent policy towards regimes against which the EU applies restrictive measures,

– having regard to Rules 135(5) and 123(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Russia, as a member of several international organisations such as the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the United Nations, has committed itself to the protection and promotion of human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, and whereas the European Union has repeatedly offered additional assistance and expertise to help Russia to modernise and abide by its constitutional and legal order, in line with Council of Europe standards;

B. whereas there are concerns about developments in the Russian Federation with regard to respect for and the protection of human rights and respect for commonly agreed democratic principles and the rule of law;

C. whereas the anti-corruption and pro-democracy demonstrations of 26 March 2017, in many cities across Russia were followed by a large number of arrests and detentions, including that of the opposition leader Alexey Navalny and a number of journalists;

D. whereas the verdict of the Leninsky Court in Kirov (08.02.2017) against Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny on charges of embezzlement attempts to silence yet another independent political voice in the Russian Federation; whereas the European Court of Human Rights had ruled that Navalny had been denied the right to a fair trial in his prosecution in 2013 for the same charges;

 

G. whereas there is necessary to maintain for a firm, coherent and comprehensive EU policy towards Russia, supported by all the Member States, with support and assistance backed up by firm and fair criticism;

 

1.Condemns the police operations in the Russian Federation attempting to prevent and disperse anticorruption demonstrations and detaining hundreds of citizens, including Alexey Navalny, whose organisation initiated the demonstrations;

 

2.Calls on the Russian authorities to abide fully by the international commitments it has made, including the Council of Europe and the OSCE, to uphold the basic freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly - which are fundamental rights enshrined in its Constitution, and to release without delay the peaceful demonstrators that have been detained;

 

3.Condemns the constant effort to silence Alexey Navalny and expresses support for his organisation’s efforts to raise awareness of and combat corruption in public institutions and among political representatives and public office holders ; regards with deep concern the Court decision of February 2017 which effectively excludes Alexey Navalny from the political arena, further constrains political pluralism in Russia and raises serious questions as to the fairness of democratic processes in Russia;

4.Calls on the Russian authorities to put an end to any act of harassment, including at the judicial level, against political opponents and human rights defenders in the Russian Federation, and ensure in all circumstances that they are able to carry out their legitimate activities without any interference;

5.Calls on the Presidents of the Council and the Commission, as well as the VP/HR to continue to follow such cases closely, to raise these issues in different formats and meetings with Russia, and to report back to Parliament on the exchanges with the Russian authorities;

6.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the President, Government and Parliament of the Russian Federation.