Statement by the Spokesperson on the anti-corruption demonstrations across the Russian Federation:
Police operations in the Russian Federation today, attempting to disperse demonstrations and detaining hundreds of citizens, including opposition leader Alexey Navalny, prevented the exercise of basic freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly – which are fundamental rights enshrined in the Russian constitution.
We call on the Russian authorities to abide fully by the international commitments it has made, including in the Council of Europe and the OSCE, to uphold these rights, and to release without delay the peaceful demonstrators that have been detained.
