Brussels: Head of the European Council Charles Michel and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell appealed to the Russian authorities to release the arrested opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
"The detention of Alexei Navalny upon his return to Moscow is unacceptable. I call on the Russian authorities to release him immediately,"-Charles Michel wrote on Twitter.
The head of EU diplomacy also appealed to the Russian authorities.
"The Russian authorities must respect Navalny's rights and release him immediately. The politicization of the judicial system is unacceptable,"-he wrote on Twitter.
We will remind, Alexei Navalny returned to Russia on January 17 after treatment in Germany, which took place after the poisoning "Novichok". The plane with the oppositionist on board was supposed to land at Vnukovo airport, but was redirected to Sheremetyevo.
Navalny was detained at Sheremetyevo during passport control. Subsequently, the Russian Penitentiary Service officially announced the detention of Navalny.
Before the arrest, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny gave brief comments to journalists at Sheremetyevo airport. He noted that this is his best day in the last five months, and also added that he is not afraid of anything.