People gather outside the Russian embassy, following the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, reported by prison authorities in Russia鈥檚 Yamalo-Nenets region where he had been serving his sentence, in Warsaw, Poland, February 16, 2024. Dawid Zuchowicz/Agencja Wyborcza.pl via REUTERS
Paris, France 鈥� A host of European governments Monday summoned Russian diplomats following the prison death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said during a visit to Argentina that Russia鈥檚 ambassador in Paris would be summoned, while Norway鈥檚 foreign ministry issued a statement that it was calling on its top Russian diplomat 鈥渇or a talk鈥� about Navalny鈥檚 death.
READ: Who was Alexei Navalny and what did he say of Russia, Putin, and death?
鈥淚n the conversation, Norwegian views will be conveyed about Russian authorities鈥� responsibility for the death and for facilitating a transparent investigation,鈥� Norway said, adding that the meeting had not yet taken place but would shortly.
It followed similar announcements earlier Monday by Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Spain, Sweden, and the Netherlands, saying they had summoned diplomats from Russian embassies. London had done the same Friday evening.
Navalny鈥檚 death in a remote prison in the Arctic, where the 47-year-old was serving a 19-year sentence after surviving a 2020 poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin, was announced Friday.
鈥淭he regime of Vladimir Putin has once again shown its true nature,鈥� France鈥檚 Sejourne said Monday.
Western countries have unanimously pointed blame at the Russian authorities for his death, three years into his sentence, which deprives the opposition of its most prominent figure a month ahead of presidential elections that are expected to enhance Putin鈥檚 firm grip on power.
Finland鈥檚 foreign ministry on X, formerly Twitter, called for Russia 鈥渢o release all political prisoners鈥� while confirming it had called on the ambassador Monday.
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鈥淚t is terrible that Alexei Navalny has paid the ultimate price for his fight for a free and democratic Russia,鈥� Hanke Bruins Slot, the Netherlands鈥� foreign affairs minister, posted on X. 鈥淲e strongly urge Russia to release Navalny鈥檚 body to his family and relatives.鈥�
Earlier Monday, Sweden鈥檚 Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said in a statement he had summoned Russia鈥檚 ambassador and called for the European Union to consider 鈥渁 new sanctions regime targeting the internal repression in Russia.鈥�
On Friday, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Madrid 鈥渄emands that the circumstances鈥� of the death be clarified.