World

EU leaders say Russia responsible for death of Alexei Navalny

Published

2 years ago

February 18, 2024

EU leaders say Russia responsible for death of Alexei Navalny

Several EU leaders have said they hold the Kremlin directly responsible for the sudden death of Alexei Navalny.

Navalny, 47, the face of Russia’s silenced opposition, died in prison on Friday following years of political persecution at the hands of the state.

The EU, which has long saluted Navalny’s unwavering fight for Russian democracy, had previously attempted to exert pressure on the Kremlin for its systemic repression of government critics.

EU leaders on Friday pinned blame for Navalny’s death – which has rocked Brussels and EU capitals – on Putin’s Russia.

“The EU holds the Russian regime (solely) responsible for this tragic death,” European Council President Charles Michel said on social media platform X.

Michel’s words were echoed by Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, who said: “Let’s be clear: this is Putin’s sole responsibility.”

An official on behalf of the EU’s diplomatic arm, headed by Borrell, also said the bloc held Putin’s Russia directly accountable for Navalny’s passing.

“Russia took his freedom and his life, but not his dignity,” Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, said.

“Alexei Navalny didn’t die in prison, he was killed by the Kremlin’s brutality and its aim to silence the opposition at any cost,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said.

“Alexei Navalny’s death is yet another dark reminder of the rogue regime we’re dealing with – and why Russia and all those responsible must be held accountable for each of their crimes,” said Estonia’s Kaja Kallas, who was listed ‘wanted’ by the Kremlin earlier this week for what it says are charges relating to historical memory.

“Putin’s regime imprisoned and has now tortured to death one of the last symbols of democracy in Russia,” Latvian prime minister Evika Silina said.

“I call on Russia to cease repressing political opposition and release all political prisoners,” Silina added.

The three Baltic EU states are staunch backers of Kyiv and have called for harsh EU measures against Russia for its war in Ukraine and repression at home.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was “deeply disturbed” by the news of his death. “A grim reminder of what Putin and his regime are all about,” she said.

Tributes also poured in from the Belgian, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Polish, Spanish and Swedish leaders.

Greatest threat to Putin exterminated

Navalny was seen as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s fiercest political opponent and greatest threat to his grip on power.

He was awarded the European Parliament’s Sakharov prize for freedom of thought in 2021 for his tireless fight against the corruption and human rights abuses in Russia, despite several attempts by the Kremlin to threaten, torture and poison him.

His daughter Daria Navalnaya, receiving the prize while her father was serving a prison sentence at a Russian forced labour colony, gave the following message to the European Parliament on his behalf:

“Say that no one can dare to equate Russia to Putin’s regime. Russia is a part of Europe and we strive to become a part of it,” she said in 2021.

“But we also want Europe to strive for itself, to those amazing ideas, which are at its core. We strive for a Europe of ideas, the celebration of human rights, democracy and integrity.”

In 2020, Navalny was urgently evacuated from a Siberian hospital to Germany, where he was treated after being poisoned with a Novichok-type nerve agent.

Despite the apparent attempt at assassination by the Russian regime, he returned to Russia in 2021, where he was sentenced to 19 years in a penal colony on charges of extremism.

He had initially been serving his sentence in a prison in central Russia, but was transferred late last year to a “special regime” penal colony above the Arctic Circle.

An EU official said Friday Navalny had been “slowly killed” in prison.

Death could prompt further sanctions

An senior EU official speaking on condition of anonymity said on Friday that Navalny was someone “we really admired and appreciated” and whose fight the bloc had “followed for years.”

But his death also casts a harsh light on the bloc’s inability in the years prior to the war in Ukraine to exert sufficient diplomatic pressure on Russia to comply with its human rights obligations.

In 2021, a year before the start of the war, the bloc slapped sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, on Russian officials responsible for Navalny’s detention under the so-called Magnitsky act.

Further sanctions were imposed on individuals involved in Navalny’s chemical poisoning in November 2022, eight months following the invasion of Ukraine.

His death will be discussed when EU foreign ministers gather in Brussels on Monday.

The official added that the bloc was “ready to see if we can list (sanction) more people involved in this murder.”

Related Topics:alexei navalny EU-Russia Featured Russia

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World

Two-train crash leaves at least 1 dead, 89 injured as emergency crews rush to chaotic scene

Published

9 minutes ago

June 20, 2026

Press Room

Two-train crash leaves at least 1 dead, 89 injured as emergency crews rush to chaotic scene

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Authorities are responding after two passenger trains crashed into each other Friday near Bedford, England, killing at least one person and injuring nearly 90 others.

The East of England Ambulance Service said it was called to a collision involving two trains at Elstow, near Bedford, at about 5:15 p.m. local time and quickly declared a “major incident.”

One person died at the scene, 11 people suffered very serious injuries, 22 were seriously injured and 56 people had minor injuries, officials said.

Bedford is roughly 60 miles north of London.

2 TRAINS COLLIDE IN DENMARK, LEAVING 5 PEOPLE CRITICALLY INJURED

Two passenger trains collided Friday in the United Kingdom. (Fox News)

All the patients with the most serious injuries have been taken from the scene to hospital.

The ambulance service said it sent numerous resources to the scene, including more than 20 ambulances, specialist hazardous area response teams and six air ambulances.

MULTIPLE STABBED IN UK TRAIN ATTACK NEAR CAMBRIDGE AS POLICE ARREST 2 SUSPECTS

Emergency crews were pictured working near the scene. (Fox News)

“Our thoughts are with everyone affected, and we thank all emergency service colleagues for their swift response,” the ambulance service wrote in a statement.

The Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed its crews were also responding.

“Please avoid the area,” fire officials wrote in a statement on X.

Sources told The Telegraph the train driver was on the phone with maintenance staff discussing a safety issue at the time of the crash.

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This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Alexandra Koch is a Fox News Digital journalist who covers breaking news, with a focus on high-impact events that shape national conversation.

She has covered major national crises, including the L.A. wildfires, Potomac and Hudson River aviation disasters, Boulder terror attack, and Texas Hill Country floods.

World

Lebanese influencer organises World Cup event amid Israel’s attack on Leban

Published

1 hour ago

June 19, 2026

Press Room

Lebanese influencer organises World Cup event amid Israel’s attack on Leban

NewsFeed

As Israel’s war on Lebanon rages, hundreds gather in Rmeileh by Sidon Gate to watch the 2026 World Cup. Organised by influencer Bilal Haddad, the fan zone offers food trucks, shisha and family activities, giving people a rare chance to relax. Al Jazeera’s Justin Salhani went to check it out.

Published On 20 Jun 2026

World

On the South Lawn, a UFC fighter’s victory frames an unusual White House scene

Published

9 hours ago

June 19, 2026

Press Room

On the South Lawn, a UFC fighter’s victory frames an unusual White House scene

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mark Schiefelbein has been based in Washington, D.C., with AP for about three years, and before that spent a decade in Beijing at AP’s China bureau.

Here’s what he had to say about this extraordinary photo.

Why this photo?

This was an event that had never happened before in the 250-year history of the United States and may never happen again: a night of mixed martial-arts cage match brawls on the South Lawn of the White House, with bloodied competitors battling it out in front of the president, vice president, and other leaders of the country. AP had other photographers ringside at the event focusing more on the fights themselves. So I felt my role was to capture the context of the evening — the location, the people in attendance, the environment.

How I made this photo

A small group of other photographers and I, the White House press pool, had been allowed to photograph part of the evening from a position in the stands directly opposite the White House. I was carrying four cameras with a variety of lenses from 12 mm to 300 mm. This let me capture everything from ultra-wide views of the “claw” structure built for the fights, to close-ups of leaders and celebrities in attendance. I had been following Diego Lopes with my longest lens as he moved around the ring celebrating his win over Steve Garcia. When I saw him start to climb onto the cage, I immediately realized there might be a possibility of a picture like this and zoomed out to capture more of the scene.

An octagon on the White House lawn for Trump’s 80th birthday and the nation’s 250th, in photos

1 of 30 |

President Donald Trump and Dana White, UFC president and CEO, arrive for UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

2 of 30 |

Diego Lopes fights Steve Garcia in a featherweight bout during UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington.(Evan Vucci/Pool Photo via AP)

3 of 30 |

President Donald Trump attends UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

4 of 30 |

Josh Hokit lands a punch as he fights Derrick Lewis during their heavyweight bout at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

5 of 30 |

Diego Lopes, stands on the ring fence during the featherweight bout against Steve Garcia during UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

6 of 30 |

President Donald Trump, center, gestures as he attends UFC Freedom 250 alongside UFC President and CEO Dana White, left, and first lady Melania Trump on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, June 15, 2026. (Evan Vucci/Pool Photo via AP)

7 of 30 |

Nic Becker, of Houston, shows off a Freedom 250 tattoo he got earlier in the day during UFC Fan Fest on the White House Ellipse ahead of the fights on the South Lawn, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

8 of 30 |

Lightweight Justin Gaethje is filmed by a crew on the White House Collannade, as he walks to UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, June 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

9 of 30 |

First lady Melania Trump walks out to the UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

10 of 30 |

Fans wear America-themed clothing during the UFC Fan Fest on the White House Ellipse ahead of UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

11 of 30 |

President Donald Trump and UFC President and CEO Dana White watch the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and U.S. Navy Blue Angels perform a fly over the White House during the UFC Freedom 250 fights on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

12 of 30 |

U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels perform a flyover during the National Anthem at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP)

13 of 30 |

MMA fighter Sean Strickland is escorted out of the UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest on The Ellipse by U.S. Secret Service and other law enforcement ahead of UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (Kevin Dietsch/Pool Photo via AP)

14 of 30 |

UFC fans take video before the ceremonial UFC Freedom 250 weigh-ins on the Ellipse, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Washington, ahead of Sunday’s fight on the South Lawn of the White House. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

15 of 30 |

Eric Albarracin at the UFC Fan Fest on the White House Ellipse ahead of Sunday’s fight on the South Lawn, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

16 of 30 |

Kai Trump arrives before the ceremonial UFC Freedom 250 weigh-ins on the Ellipse, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Washington, ahead of Sunday’s fight on the South Lawn of the White House. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

17 of 30 |

Diego Lopes participates in the ceremonial UFC Freedom 250 weigh-ins on the Ellipse, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Washington, ahead of Sunday’s fight on the South Lawn of the White House. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

18 of 30 |

UFC commentator Joe Rogan during the ceremonial UFC Freedom 250 weigh-ins on the Ellipse, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Washington, ahead of Sunday’s fight on the South Lawn of the White House. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

19 of 30 |

Ilia Topuria, center, during the ceremonial UFC Freedom 250 weigh-ins on the Ellipse, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Washington, ahead of Sunday’s fight on the South Lawn of the White House. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

20 of 30 |

People arrive before the ceremonial UFC Freedom 250 weigh-ins on the Ellipse, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Washington, ahead of Sunday’s fight on the South Lawn of the White House. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

21 of 30 |

Motorsports athletes and stunt performers do a motorcycle jump ahead of the UFC Freedom 250 fights on the South Lawn of the White House, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)

22 of 30 |

Isaiah Francisco and Eric Albarracin at the UFC Fan Fest on the White House Ellipse ahead of Sunday’s fight on the South Lawn, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

23 of 30 |

UFC bantamweight fighters Sean O’Malley and Aiemann Zahabi face off during a UFC news conference at the Lincoln Memorial, ahead of Sunday’s fight on the South Lawn of the White House, Friday, June 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

24 of 30 |

A UFC fan participates in the UFC striking challenge before the ceremonial UFC Freedom 250 weigh-ins on the Ellipse, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Washington, ahead of Sunday’s fight on the South Lawn of the White House. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

25 of 30 |

The UFC Fan Fest on the White House Ellipse ahead of Sunday’s fight on the South Lawn, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

26 of 30 |

The UFC holds a news conference at the Lincoln Memorial, ahead of Sunday’s fight on the South Lawn of the White House, Friday, June 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

27 of 30 |

UFC fighter Alex Pereira holds his UFC belts at a UFC news conference at the Lincoln Memorial, ahead of Sunday’s fight on the South Lawn of the White House, Friday, June 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

28 of 30 |

UFC bantamweight fighter Sean O’Malley enters a UFC news conference at the Lincoln Memorial, ahead of Sunday’s fight on the South Lawn of the White House, Friday, June 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

29 of 30 |

The UFC Fan Fest on the White House Ellipse ahead of Sunday’s fight on the South Lawn, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

30 of 30 |

Audience members cheer and boo during a UFC news conference at the Lincoln Memorial, ahead of Sunday’s fight on the South Lawn of the White House, Friday, June 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

Why this photo works

The White House is surely one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. The columns of the South Portico, the fighter standing with arms and legs spread wide in celebration, and the octagon padding of the UFC ring tell an entire story as your eyes move from top to bottom of the frame. With Lopes standing with his back to the camera, facing the White House, it becomes less a photo of him and more about the evening, the event, and the spectacle. It was fortunate that it was after nightfall, so things that might have been distracting, like the Marine Band and spectators seated behind the ring, are mostly in the dark. Only the key elements – the White House, Lopes, and the ring are lit up.

—

For more extraordinary AP photography, click here.