The European Union summoned Russia's representative to the EU and called for an independent international investigation into the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the EU's diplomatic service said on February 20.
"The EU side conveyed the EU's outrage over the death of the Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, for which the ultimate responsibility lies with President (Vladimir) Putin and the Russian authorities," the diplomatic service said. A senior official in the European External Action Service "called upon Russia to allow an independent and transparent international investigation into circumstances" of Navalny's death, it added.
The Kremlin has denied involvement in Navalny's death and says Western allegations that Putin was responsible are unacceptable. Russia's Investigative Committee says it has launched a procedural investigation into the death, and the Kremlin has said it does not bow to EU demands.
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