The guilty verdict delivered today, Tuesday 30 December, by the Zamoskvoretsky Court against Alexey Navalny and his brother Oleg Navalny appears to be politically motivated, the spokesperson of the High Representative for Foreign policy and Security said in a statement.

“The charges against them have not been substantiated during the trial. With the exception of a few selected representatives of the media, no public and international observers were allowed into the court building for the reading of the verdict.

The EU stresses the importance of judicial decisions to be free from political interference, independent, and in full compliance with the rule of law.

In anticipation of announced public actions tonight in Moscow, the EU expects that all parties concerned will show restraint,” the statement said.