European leaders have condemned Vladimir Putin for Russia’s “ultimate responsibility” in the death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, as supporters held remembrance events a year after he died in an Arctic penal colony.
On Sunday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz paid tribute to Navalny, describing him as a brave fighter for democracy and freedom. EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas stated that Putin bore “ultimate responsibility” for Navalny’s death, which she said was a result of his efforts to stand up against Russia’s internal repression.
Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, addressed a memorial ceremony in Berlin, where she called on people to continue fighting for a free and democratic Russia. She accused Putin of trying to erase the memory of her late husband and hide the truth about his murder.
The Kremlin has not provided a clear explanation for Navalny’s death, which occurred less than a month before a presidential election that extended Putin’s rule. Despite this, hundreds of people gathered at Borisovskoye cemetery in Moscow to pay their respects to the opposition leader.
The ongoing repression in Russia is seen as part of its broader “war of aggression” against Ukraine. Navalny continued to speak out against the Kremlin even from behind bars, calling on Russians to oppose Putin’s rule.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/16/alexei-navalny-supporters-visit-grave-on-first-anniversary-of-his-death