Mr. Navalny, 47, had misplaced consciousness and couldn’t be revived, based on media stories.
“If somebody dies within the custody of the State, the presumption is that the State is accountable – a duty that can solely be rebutted by an neutral, thorough and clear investigation carried out by an unbiased physique,” mentioned OHCHR spokesperson Liz Throssell, calling on Russia “to guarantee such a reputable investigation is carried out”.
Calls for defense
Any State has a heightened responsibility to guard the lives of people disadvantaged of their liberty, the UN rights workplace mentioned.
Ms. Throssell additionally known as on Russia to finish its persecution of opposition politicians, human rights defenders and journalists, amongst others.
“All those that are held or have been sentenced to numerous jail phrases in relation to the professional train of their rights, together with the rights to freedom of peaceable meeting and expression, must be instantly launched and all costs towards them dropped,” Ms. Throssell mentioned.
The Russian authorities – like all States – have an obligation below worldwide regulation to guard the lives of people disadvantaged of their liberty. A complete and unbiased investigation, together with a full post-mortem should be carried out as a matter of urgency.
Navalny confronted a number of costs
Mr. Navalny was serving a number of sentences, together with contemporary charges of extremism introduced in August, following his arrest in 2021.
OHCHR had “repeatedly raised severe considerations regarding the costs towards Navalny and his repeated detention which seemed to be arbitrary,” Ms. Throssell mentioned.
Final August, UN Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk highlighted that the most recent 19-year sentence raised questions about judicial harassment and instrumentalization of the courtroom system for political functions in Russia and known as for Mr. Navalny’s launch, the spokesperson mentioned.
Disappeared in December
In December, Mariana Katzarova, the UN Particular Rapporteur on the scenario of human rights in Russia, issued an alert voicing concern over the enforced disappearance of Mr. Navalny, whose whereabouts and wellbeing have been unknown after greater than 10 days.
Mr. Navalny was transferred to the jail the place he has reportedly died, in late December.
Unsplash/Liza Pooor
An illustration in help of Alexsei Navalny in London, UK. (file)
‘Bleak day for rule of regulation’
UN Particular Rapporteur on Torture Alice Edwards mentioned that a number of UN unbiased consultants, together with herself, privately and publicly urged the Russian Authorities to finish the punitive situations during which Mr. Navalny was held.
She mentioned they’d known as for an investigation into credible allegations of torture towards Mr. Navalny and informed the authorities of the important want for him to obtain medical therapy, particularly following his alleged poisoning in 2020, she mentioned.
“That our appeals to the Kremlin have been ignored so blatantly, and with such disregard for human life is a tragedy for Mr. Navalny, his household and supporters,” she mentioned. “It is usually a bleak day for the rule of regulation, free expression and human rights.”
Lengthy-time critic
For the reason that early 2000s, he has been a vocal anti-corruption activist and critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, main protests and garnering help.
In 2020, Mr. Navalny was hospitalized for accidents sustained from a poisoning that concerned Novichok, a nerve agent developed by Russia throughout the chilly conflict.
The media reported that on Thursday, Mr. Navalny had appeared in courtroom by way of video. Information stories additionally famous that Mr. Navalny’s spokesperson was asking for affirmation and additional particulars of his loss of life.
Particular Rapporteurs
Extra to come back on this creating story…
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