07/03/2024 Standing Committee
"I am looking at the image of smiling Alexei, in fact the last known image of him being alive, and I know that Putin has lost", Emanuelis Zingeris (Lithuania, EPP/CD) today said at the opening of a current affairs debate on the death of Alexei Navalny.
"Perhaps he thought that by killing Alexei, he would show strength, but it’s exactly the opposite. Putin could not stand the fact that Alexei Navalny could not be broken. His body might have been poisoned or destroyed after 3 years of detention in the most cruel and degrading conditions imaginable, but his spirit, courage and dedication remained intact", he stated.
"We need to direct the global anger about the death of Alexei towards ending Putin’s totalitarian rule. Toughen the sanctions, prevent the regime’s enablers from using western businesses to hide and grow their wealth. Confiscate Russian assets and use them to arm and rebuild Ukraine. Identify and bring to justice all those responsible for Alexei’s agony and for their attempts to eradicate Ukraine. In simple terms: let’s make Putin and his mafia pay", Mr Zingeris concluded.