UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed shock at the reported death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, and the UN has called for a full, credible, and transparent investigation into the circumstances of Navalny’s death in custody.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric conveyed the Secretary-General’s condolences to Navalny’s family and stressed the need for an impartial and thorough investigation by an independent body when someone dies in state custody.
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Liz Throssell emphasized that the presumption is that the state is responsible when someone dies in state custody.
Throssell called on Russian authorities to ensure a credible investigation is conducted and urged an end to the persecution of politicians, human rights defenders, and journalists in Russia.
The Investigative Committee in Russia has initiated a procedural investigation into Navalny’s death.
The UN’s call for a thorough and unbiased inquiry aligns with international standards for ensuring accountability and justice in cases of deaths in state custody.
