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‘Meddling in Russia’s judicial affairs’: Kremlin blasts ‘unlawful’ ECHR verdict on Navalny

It is a very serious attempt to interfere in Russia’s domestic judicial affairs, the spokesman said

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov Anton Novoderzhkin/TASS

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov

© Anton Novoderzhkin/TASS

MOSCOW, February 18. /TASS/. The decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Alexey Navalny is an unacceptable attempt to interfere in Russia’s domestic judicial affairs, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

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ECHR demands immediate release of Alexey Navalny as interim measure, says lawyer

"The decision is unlawful, it is a very serious attempt to interfere in Russia’s domestic judicial affairs, which, in our opinion, is unacceptable," the spokesman told reporters on Thursday.

"We do not seek confrontation, but, on the other hand, such decisions and such a rush in making such decisions and clear politicization in taking such a decision raise a lot of questions," Peskov said.

The spokesman reminded that Moscow’s stance on the ECHR decision "was voiced by Minister of Justice [Konstantin] Chuychenko."

Earlier, Navalny’s lawyer Olga Mikhailova disclosed that the ECHR demands that Russia immediately release Navalny, based on the Rule 39 of the Rules of Court. According to the lawyer, "Russia must immediately release Navalny, in accordance with the current norms and all international agreements." Russian Minister of Justice Konstantin Chuychenko called the European Court of Human Rights’ demand to release blogger Alexey Navalny unprecedented, adding that it is impracticable, because it has no legal basis.

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