Belgium will summon the Russian Ambassador this Tuesday, following the death of opposition politician Alexeï Navalny in detention, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced on Tuesday morning.
"We informed the Russian ambassador yesterday that we were summoning him. This will take place today", said the Prime Minister on VRT, Belga News Agency reports.
Several European countries had already summoned the Russian ambassador on Monday. These included France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden.
Vladimir Putin's opponent died last Friday in a Siberian prison camp. Five days after his death, his family has still not been able to see his body. The Russian authorities say they are still examining the cause of his death.
Navalny widow in Brussels
Yulia Navalny, who met the European foreign affairs ministers in Brussels on Monday, called on the European Union to target Vladimir Putin's entourage and the "corrupt oligarchs" who support him.
"Vladimir Putin and his regime must be held to account for the death of Alexei Navalny", confirmed the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, at the end of the meeting.
Earlier in the day, the EU foreign affairs chief had proposed that Alexei Navalny's name be added to the EU's global human rights sanctions regime. The EU adopted this instrument at the end of 2020, in order to sanction people, entities or (State) bodies implicated in human rights violations or considered to be directly responsible for such violations.
Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib and Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya. Credit: Belga / Dirk Waem
This system is comparable to the American Magnitsky Act, named after the lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, active in the fight against corruption in the political system, who died in custody in Moscow in 2009.
Several European ministers have said they are in favour of new sanctions against Russia. The EU has already sanctioned Russia on several occasions, with 12 packages of measures, and is preparing to adopt a thirteenth on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February.
"We need to be aware of what is at stake today. If Russia succeeds in expanding, it is a dictatorship that move a little closer to the European Union", warned Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib.
Speaking to Yulia Navalnaya, she expressed her admiration for her commitment and courage. "The death of your husband, Alexei Navalny, reminds us of the threat that Putin represents," she added in an interview. "You are not alone, our hearts and minds, Belgium and the European Union, are with you," she told her.
