Press Release
Published on February 16, 2024
WASHINGTON, DC – Human Rights First President and CEO Michael Breen responded today to reports of the death of politician, activist, and anti-corruption advocate Alexei Navalny in Russian custody:
“We are outraged by the reported death of Alexei Navalny and strongly condemn the Russian government for its role in silencing his powerful, courageous, and defiant voice in the struggle against authoritarianism. Reports of Navalny’s death remind the world of the mortal danger faced every day by political prisoners in Russia’s jails.
“Human Rights First urges the United States and other governments to use every tool at their disposal to secure the release of political prisoners and activists working for a democratic future in Russia, including our advisor Vladimir Kara-Murza. We demand that the Putin government release those imprisoned for exercising their rights and be held accountable for its abuses and corruption.
“Our thoughts are with the family of Alexei Navalny at this dark moment.”
Background
Human Rights First has worked to spotlight the calls for targeted sanctions by Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation and welcomed the multilateral imposition of Magnitsky sanctions on Russian officials involved in repression against Navalny and his supporters.
Kara-Murza has worked closely with Navalny in Russian pro-democracy campaigns and was a senior advisor to HRF from 2020 to when he was arbitrarily detained in Russia in 2022. Like Navalny, he survived poisoning and bravely continued the fight for a free Russia. We are working with other civil society groups in recommending the State Department immediately recognize Kara-Murza as a wrongfully detained U.S. national and advocate for his release.
