French President Emmanuel Macron received the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Yulia Navalnaya, at the Elysee Palace on 31 May.
The president "reiterated his condolences to Mrs Yulia Navalnaya on the unjustified death of Alexei Navalny, who was in prison in Russia at the time, on 16 February 2024," the Elysee Palace said in a statement quoted by AFP.
It "paid tribute to the memory of Alexei Navalny and to the courage with which he led his life during his battles against corruption and in favour of freedom of expression," it added.
Emmanuel Macron also "reaffirmed France's support for all human rights defenders".
"Yesterday (31 May) I met with Emmanuel Macron. We discussed how France can help civil society in Russia and beyond in the fight against Putin and his dictatorship. I am grateful that he understood that there are many people in Russia who are against the war in Ukraine and who need help and support," Yulia Navalnaya said in a statement on 1 June.
On 16 February 2024, her husband Alexei Navalny, a major opponent of Vladimir Putin, died in an Arctic prison under unclear circumstances.
Yulia Navalnaya, her supporters and foreign leaders accused the Russian president of killing the activist, who was serving a long sentence for "extremism." The Kremlin has denied those accusations. | BGNES
