European Council President Charles Michel has held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, clarifying the EU’s position on the arrest of opposition activist Alexey Navalny, the European Council said in a statement following the phone call on Friday.
"The phone call between the President of the European Council Charles Michel and President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation took place on Friday, January 22, 2021. President Michel raised the detention of Alexey Navalny," the statement reads.
"The President of the European Council informed President Putin of the grave concern in the EU and its Member States over recent developments and called to fully and unconditionally respect Alexey Navalny's rights," the council added.
