Alexander De Croo: “His death underlines why we support Ukraine”
“Alexej Navalny was a champion of democracy and human rights,” writes Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open VLD) on X. “His tragic death once again underlines why we will continue to support Ukraine. Russia will not prevail in Ukraine. Our thoughts are with Navalny’s family and friends and all the brave Russian political prisoners.”
Charles Michel: “EU holds Russian regime solely responsible for his death”
“Alexei Navalny fought for the values of freedom and democracy. He made the ultimate sacrifice for his ideals,” writes Charles Michel, President of the European Council, on X. “The EU holds the Russian regime solely responsible for this tragic death. I extend my deepest condolences to his family. And with those who fight for democracy in the darkest circumstances all over the world. Fighters die. But the fight for #freedom never ends.”
Volodymyr Zelensky: “Obviously murdered by Putin”
“It is very clear that he was murdered by Putin, just like thousands of others who were tormented and tortured by this one person,” the Ukrainian president said. “Putin doesn’t care who dies as long as he keeps his position. He should lose everything and be held accountable for what he did,” he added.
Olaf Scholz: “Navalny paid for his courage with his life”
“Navalny paid for his courage with his life,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told Reuters. Scholz said on Friday he was “very saddened” by reports of the Russian opposition leader’s death. According to Scholz, his death is a “terrible” sign of how Russia as a country has changed in recent years.
Rishi Sunak: “Enormous tragedy”
“This is terrible news,” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak writes on My thoughts go out to his wife and the Russian people, for whom this is a tremendous tragedy.”
Mark Rutte: “It illustrates the unprecedented brutality of the Russian regime”
“Very shocked by the news of the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny,” writes Mark Rutte, outgoing Prime Minister of the Netherlands, on X. “It illustrates the unprecedented brutality of the Russian regime. Navalny fought for democratic values and against corruption. He had to pay for his struggle with death, while he was held under the most harsh and inhumane conditions. I wish his family, loved ones and everyone who fought with him for change in Russia much strength.”
Stéphane Séjourné: “A reminder of the reality of Putin’s regime”
Navalny paid with his life for his “resistance against a system of oppression,” French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné told Reuters on Friday. “His death in a penal colony reminds us of the reality of Vladimir Putin’s regime.”
Dmitry Muratov: “Sprake van moord”
Speaking to Reuters, Dmitry Muratov, the founder of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, described Navalny’s death as “murder”. “Prison conditions led to his death.”
Frans Timmermans: “Putin’s regime makes another victim”
According to Frans Timmermans, party leader of GroenLinks-PvdA in the Netherlands, “Putin’s totalitarian regime” is making “another victim”: “Aleksey Navalny will not survive the gulag,” Timmermans writes on X. “Courage and intransigence were not enough to stop the terror to cope. My thoughts are with his loved ones.”
Amnesty: “They killed him”
“They killed him,” Agnes Callamard, Amnesty’s secretary general, wrote on X. “I am devastated. I think of his wife and children, his friends and colleagues. RIP, brave #AlexeiNavalny. May you find many beautiful rivers to swim in.”
Kremlin: “Putin informed”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a statement that Russian President Vladimir Putin had been informed of Navalny’s death.