TLHRC Co-Chairs Condemn Navalny Death in Custody and Call for Full Accountability

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressmen James P. McGovern and Chris Smith, Co-Chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, issued the following statement on the death in custody on February 16, 2024, of Russian opposition leader and Defending Freedoms Project prisoner of conscience Alexei Navalny.

“As Co-Chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, we join those all around the world who are appalled, saddened and angered by the sudden death while in state custody of Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny. We extend our most heartfelt condolences to his wife, Yulia Navalnaya, and children, Dasha and Zakhar. There must be a thorough and independent investigation of the full circumstances of Mr. Navalny’s death, and those responsible must be held accountable.

“As one of Russia’s most well-known democracy and ant-corruption activists, Mr. Navalny was persecuted for years by the Russian state. He survived an attempted assassination at the hands of Russian agents in August 2020, only to be imprisoned in dire conditions on politically motivated charges. The severe mistreatment to which he was subjected was evident for all to see. The state’s refusal to return Mr. Navalny’s body to his family is a further demonstration of its deep-seated disregard for the rights and dignity of its citizens.

“Alexei Navalny’s death is a tremendous loss for the Russian people that can only be overcome by taking to heart his last message: ‘You're not allowed to give up.’” 

The bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, composed of members of the U.S. House of Representatives, promotes, defends and advocates for international human rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related human rights instruments.