The West ‘disconnected from reality’, says Russian authorities after sustaining heavy condemnations

International reactions and condemnations started pouring in, mainly from the west after Russian courts convicted and sentenced Alexei Navalny, a critic of the Russian leader and Kremlin, for over two years in prison. 

Russian authorities fiercely rejected the statements given by various world leaders and said that the Western countries are “disconnected from reality” and adding that the countries should refrain from “interfering with the internal affairs of a sovereign state”.

Also Read: Alexei Navalny: From poisoning to prison

Heiko Maas, the Foreign Minister of Germany said, “Today’s verdict against Alexei Navalny is a bitter blow against fundamental freedoms & the rule of law in Russia,” Maas tweeted. “Navalny must be released immediately.”

Moreover, the Defence Minister of Germany, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer tweeted, “First they poison Navalny and then throw him in jail because he fails to comply with parole conditions while in a coma? Pure cynicism.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday condemned a Russian court’s jailing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny as a violation of his rights and demanded his release.

The newly instated United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said in a statement, “We reiterate our call for the Russian government to immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Navalny, as well as the hundreds of other Russian citizens wrongfully detained in recent weeks for exercising their rights, including the rights to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly” while urging Russian authorities for a prompt release of Navalny.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on Tuesday urged Russia to release Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, calling a Moscow court order for him to serve jail time “perverse”.

Also Read: Detention tally crosses 4,800 in Russia after nationwide protests for Navalny

Dominic Raab, UK’s Foreign Secretary released a statement which stated, “The UK calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Alexey Navalny. Today’s perverse ruling, targeting the victim of poisoning rather than those responsible, shows Russia is failing to meet the most basic commitments expected of any responsible member of the international community.”

Emmanuel Macron, the French President also took to Twitter his request for the release of the Russian critic and wrote, “Alexei Navalny’s conviction is unacceptable. Political disagreement is never a crime. We call for his immediate release. Respect for human rights and democratic freedom is non-negotiable.”