unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Mathieu Michel
Language: EN

Alexei Navalny gave hope to democrats and civil society in Russia, which is why so many people from all over the country joined his actions and listened to his messages of another Russia. We will honour his memory as a freedom fighter. Russia must allow an independent and transparent international investigation into circumstances of his sudden death. We also repeat international calls on Russia to immediately and unconditionally release all other political prisoners held in similar horrific conditions. President, honourable Members, Commissioner, Yulia Navalnaya was also present at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting last week. She thanked the EU for our strong statements and support over the last three years. Her words were also a call for further actions. The EU will spare no efforts to hold Russia’s political leadership and authorities to account in close coordination with our partners, including through further sanctions. The EU global human rights sanctions regime enables the EU to address human rights violations and abuses around the world. It signals the EU’s strong determination to stand up for human rights. Through this regime, the EU is sending a clear message: there is a cost to serious human rights violations and abuses. Those listed are banned from entering the EU and have their assets frozen. Sanctions are part of a wider policy in order to bring about a change in conduct from those responsible. They are an important part of our response, albeit not the only one. The EU supports NGOs, civil society organisations, human rights defenders and independent journalists inside and outside Russia. EU support – our support – is crucial for those organisations to ensure legal defence for political prisoners, including citizens participating in demonstrations against the war on Ukraine. To all supporters of Mr Navalny who feel that they have lost hope following his death, I reassure you that the EU will continue to use its communication channels and the international human rights to reiterate our unequivocal position on the situation in Russia.
Debate: The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Kadri Simson
Language: EN

Let me, once again, on behalf of the European Union, express my deepest condolences to Mr Navalny’s family, children, and friends, and all those who worked with him for the benefit of their country. We admire the bravery of Mr Navalny. The EU has repeatedly called on the Russian authorities for his immediate and unconditional release, pointing to the dangerous conditions where he and other Russian political prisoners are held. Our colleagues in Moscow have tried in vain to reach out to Russian authorities on his case. They have been observing the politically motivated court hearings in Moscow. Through his life, Alexei Navalny demonstrated incredible courage and determination through his anti-corruption work across Russia, spreading a message that inspired many, especially young people. He represented the possibility of a different Russia. In October 2020, the EU was the first to adopt sanctions to respond to the assassination attempt of Mr. Navalny, after he was poisoned with a toxic nerve agent. Moreover, the very first listings in March 2021, adopted under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, were also related to the case of Mr Navalny. Since then, we have further expanded our sanctions, addressing his case, and we will continue to do so in response to his death. These sanctions are also meant to complement other tools: the EU’s substantial support to civil society, human rights defenders and independent media inside and outside Russia. The EU is committed to continue supporting NGOs, civil society organisations, human rights defenders and independent journalists. Russian NGOs receive support from the EU, for example, for legal defence for political prisoners, including citizens participating in anti-war demonstrations. Russian human rights defenders also receive EU support for temporary relocation, trainings and urgent practical assistance, and for monitoring the human rights situation in Russia. The EU supports Russian-language independent media and journalists. We will continue keeping the international pressure on Russia for the human rights violations and supporting individuals, including through trial observation. Mr Navalny’s death makes us even more committed to continue this essential support. Honourable Members, we join international calls, by the UN Secretary-General and other UN bodies, on Russia to allow for a full, transparent and credible investigation. We also urge Russia to immediately and unconditionally release all other political prisoners. Mr Navalny’s death is yet another sign of the accelerating and systematic repression in Russia. Our answer will be our continued and substantial support to Russian civil society, human rights defenders and independent media inside and outside Russia, and to hold those responsible of Navalny’s death to account.
Debate: The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Rasa Juknevičienė
Political group: PPE
Country: Germany
Language: EN

This reminds us of our history of bloody Soviet occupation, the communist Russia, when the bodies of Lithuanian freedom fighters were desecrated, when mothers could not pick them up, lying in open air in front of churches.  Putin is trying to show that we are helpless. There are around 700 political prisoners in Russia, including Vladimir Kara-Murza and Ilya Yashin. Their lives are all in danger. Over 1 400 are in Lukashenka’s prisons. Their lives are also in danger. The murder of Navalny should not frighten us, but mobilise us in a common struggle for freedom. Our freedom is also threatened. The most important thing today is not to be afraid. Just as the Ukrainians are not afraid. Just as Navalny was not afraid. Not to be afraid of fully defeating Putin and helping Ukraine to win.
Debate: The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz
Political group: S-D
Country: Ireland
Language: PL

Aleksiej Nawalny wiedział, co stało się z Niemcowem, Politkowską i wieloma innymi. A jednak po uratowaniu mu życia w niemieckim szpitalu, bezpośrednio zagrożonego w wyniku otrucia wojskową trucizną przez agentów Kremla, postanowił wrócić do Rosji. Jak prawdziwy patriota chciał walczyć o uczciwą i demokratyczną Rosję, próbując swoim przykładem obudzić swoich rodaków z letargu, strachu, beznadziei i obojętności. Uczciwość i wolność to największe zagrożenie dla obecnego dyktatora Rosji, jego złodziejskiej, zbrodniczej ośmiornicy. Nawalny został pozbawiony wolności przez służalczych sędziów. Trafiał do kolejnych więzień, gdzie był nieludzko traktowany przez bandytów w uniformach straży więziennej.  Składamy hołd uczciwemu i odważnemu człowiekowi. Miejmy nadzieję, że obywatele Rosji wreszcie się obudzą. Rosja, która przez stulecia była największym więzieniem świata, prześladującym na równi swoich obywateli, jak i podbite i zniewolone narody, nie musi być taka. Wystarczy, że Rosjanie w to uwierzą.
Debate: The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Bernard Guetta
Political group: Renew
Country: Austria
Language: FR

Nous devons immédiatement livrer des missiles Taurus et des Mirage aux Ukrainiens. Nous devons œuvrer jour et nuit à notre défense commune, à ce bouclier européen, seul à même d’assurer notre sécurité et le triomphe de la liberté. Nous devons mettre l’assassin d’Alexeï Navalny hors d’état de nuire!
Debate: The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Sergey Lagodinsky
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: France
Language: EN

I don’t have any sentimental relationship to my country of origin, but Alexei and people like him have become my sentiment. People who differ in politics but are united on democracy. People like him and his wife Yulia, who returned to their homeland because they belong to their homeland, to their people, even risking their lives, even losing their lives. People like Vladimir Kara-Murza, who continues speaking the truth despite being poisoned and imprisoned. People like Navalny’s lawyers who continue serving the rights, civil rights and freedom, even though losing them themselves. This resolution is a testimony, a message to those courageous people who believe and don’t give up in despair, even in the face of death. For many of them and for me, Alexei never died. Alexei cannot be killed because you cannot kill hope. And so, Alexei is still alive in  my memory, smiling against the sun of New England as we continue our bus ride and discuss about the beautiful future of Russia. And he reminds me again and again in what he believes: we can convince them if we’re able to reach them.
Debate: The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Anna Fotyga
Political group: ECR
Country: Denmark
Language: EN

Naturally, we demand immediate, unconditional release of all political prisoners in the Russian Federation, but also of all those who were prisoners and of civilians deported forcefully from Ukraine to Russia.  This war should be stopped, but we believe that stopping Putin is by showing force. Therefore, we have to remember about necessity to help Ukraine defeat Russia. I’m sure that all spring of nations, eradication of neo-colonialism and also improvement of life and fulfilment of dreams of those who could dream about future beautiful Russia is via a very strict, rigid action by the international community. We first have to support Ukraine.
Debate: The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Malin Björk
Political group: The Left
Country: Czechia
Language: SV

Putins regim förföljer i stort sett alla oppositionella. Alla krigsmotståndare, men också civilsamhället: journalister, artister, konstnärer och hbtqi-personer. Alla som arbetar för ett demokratiskt Ryssland; de har ingen plats i Putins värld.  Vårt arbete nu är att se till att vi stöttar alla de demokratiska krafterna i Ryssland, alla som står upp mot Putins regim. Då, mina vänner, då kan vi inte fortsätta att köpa Putins olja och fossilenergi. Vi måste sätta ett stopp. Och vi måste se till att vi också ger skydd till dem som måste fly Putins terror. Vår solidaritet med dem som ställer sig upp mot Putin måste vara total.
Debate: The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Milan Uhrík
Political group: NI
Country: Austria
Language: SK

Pán predsedajúci, s istým obdivom sledujem, ako sa celý Európsky parlament v prípade smrti pána Navaľného zmenil na detektívov, ktorí presne vedia, čo sa stalo. Asi sa zhodneme na tom, že jeho smrť mesiac pred prezidentskými voľbami nebola náhodná. Ale myslím si, že na skutočnú verziu toho, čo sa stalo, si budeme musieť možno že ešte niekoľko rokov počkať. Mňa však mrzí iná vec. Mrzí ma, že ste niektorí rovnakú pozornosť nevenovali tomu, keď v slovenskej väznici, v slovenskom väzení zahynul za veľmi rovnakých okolností a podmienok bývalý policajný prezident, generál Lučanský. Tak isto mal najprv vylúpnuté oko a rozbitú hlavu. Potom to štátne autority popreli a napokon ho našli mŕtveho. To však vtedy mnohým v tejto sále vôbec nevadilo, pretože na Slovensku vládla vláda, ktorá bola liberálna a ktorá bola čisto proeurópska, bez nejakých sebavedomých ambícií. A to by som vás chcel poprosiť, keby do budúcna táto dvojtvárnosť a tento dvojaký meter v Európskom parlamente nebol.
Debate: The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Andrius Kubilius
Political group: PPE
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, dear colleagues, Alexei Navalny believed in the dream of beautiful Russia of the future, in the future of a normal, democratic Russia. Because of that, he was killed.  Do we believe in the future of democratic Russia, in the possibility of democracy in Russia? If not, then let’s be at least honest. Let’s not speak how much we support Russian civil society and Navalny’s cause because, in such case, those are only empty words. Navalny was a brave leader who was mobilising millions of people with his personal example and words ‘don’t be afraid’, because only in such a way, Russia’s transformation into the beautiful Russia of the future can be created. We shall not help such transformation only with inflation of our traditional boring statements of solidarity and condemnation. Like our statements of solidarity are not helping Ukraine to win the war. Ukraine needs ammunition and we can deliver it. In the same way, only the victory of Ukraine can bring the collapse of Putin’s regime and open the doors for Russian people to transform Russia. Let’s not be afraid of the defeat of Russia. We can make it happen, we can be brave and help Russian people. That is how Navalny’s dream will be realised.
Debate: The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Tonino Picula
Political group: S-D
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, dear colleagues, the murder of Alexei Navalny is another chapter of Putin’s inhuman, repressive and brutal regime. The Stalinist methods, lack of transparency and circumstances surrounding it show that the ultimate responsibility lies on dictator and the Russian state. The aftermath and the horrendous pressure imposed to his family, friends and lawyers is a sharp reminder of whom we are dealing with. Therefore, I welcome today’s address of Ms Yulia Navalnaya, a very courageous woman, in our House. I think it’s also clear that democratic Russia is unfortunately very far from reality. This House has always supported Russian democratic activists, independent civil society and all courageous citizens opposing the brutal dictatorship of Putin. Unfortunately, for now, it seems that the struggle will take more time than expected. Anyway, we need to keep the Kremlin under pressure and hold dictatorship accountable. Dear colleagues, with the European elections approaching, as well as with the US elections in November, we have to be able to expect the unexpected. But let us not lose the focus and always remember that we are a union of the values. We must not stay silent to brutal dictatorship in our immediate neighbourhood. Our citizens are counting on our voice and they are expecting our response.
Debate: The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Guy Verhofstadt
Political group: Renew
Country: Bulgaria
Language: EN

Mr President, I have to tell you that I find this debate here outrageous. Everybody is trying to honour Navalny, but that is not the topic of the debate. The topic of the debate is what will be the action and the reaction of the EU after the murdering of Navalny? And you come here from the Council and the Commission is here to applaud Yulia, but we have nothing to say about the measures we’re going to take. What are we going to do? The Americans, Joe Biden, have announced – four days after the murder of Navalny – 500 sanctions against the Russian Putin regime. And we? What we have done? We have written a text, a letter, with 87 Members of Parliament to ask for three things, and nothing has been done in the meanwhile. First of all, Magnitsky sanctions against all those involved in the murder of Navalny: judges, prison guards and so on. Nothing has been decided or proposed by the Commission today or in recent days. Secondly, we ask that the Navalny list of 6 000 people will be used in a new sanction package, a 14th sanction package, a list of 6 000 people. Nothing has been proposed in the meanwhile, already 14 days. And thirdly, that the Russian assets finally will be seized, finally will be seized. Yellen, yesterday, the American administration says that they have no problems to seize the Russian assets. And the Commission and the Council is proposing nothing. I find it shameful. I want a real strategy towards Russia and not coming here in the Parliament, applauding Yulia and doing nothing at all.
Debate: The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Heidi Hautala
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Poland
Language: EN

Mr President, colleagues, how deep the persecution of human rights defenders and political opposition in Russia is, is revealed by the situation of lawyers who defend them. Yesterday, Alexei Navalny’s lawyer was arrested briefly in Moscow. Three of them have already been detained earlier for accusations of extremism, and one of them is under arrest warrant. Yesterday, our 2009 Sakharov laureate, Oleg Orlov, from Memorial, was convicted on repeated discreditation of the Russian army. He defended himself alone because he did not want to risk that his lawyers would face persecution and prison. And Oleg said in his final statement in court, ‘I regret nothing’. We must show our utmost respect for him and other people persecuted, but we must also find ways, as the European Union, to defend lawyers and their important work. Many of them are now in exile. It is the ultimate eradication, even of the remainders of rule of law and judiciary, if lawyers cannot even do their work.
Debate: The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Ryszard Czarnecki
Political group: ECR
Country: France
Language: PL

Panie Przewodniczący! Pani Komisarz! Myślę, że ta debata musi pokazać naszą jednomyślność. To bardzo ważne, bo Rosja chciałaby Europy podzielonej. Myślę, że ta śmierć może i powinna wzmocnić naszą reakcję wobec tego imperium zła. Tutaj pan premier Verhofstadt mówił, że Komisja robi źle, pewnie tak, że Rada robi źle, pewnie tak, a ja tylko przypomnę, co stało się po śmierci Borysa Niemcowa 10 lat temu. Otóż Parlament Europejski nie zamroził relacji z Dumą rosyjską i parlamentem, po tym jak nastąpiła napaść Rosji i zajęcie Krymu i Donbasu, zamroził dopiero wtedy, gdy zginął Borys Niemcow. Myślę, że tym bardziej teraz, po śmierci Nawalnego, Europa powinna pokazać swoją jedność.
Debate: The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Clare Daly
Political group: The Left
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, the rights of all people must be respected. As I’ve said many times before, Alexei Navalny should not have been in prison. His death in detention is appalling and an impartial investigation into the circumstances absolutely necessary.  But while respecting the dead, we also have to be accurate in our memories. Was he Russia’s democratic messiah? I don’t believe so. A courageous activist? Yes. But what kind? A free marketeer, a fan of the 90s reforms that led to Putin, a race-baiter ejected from the liberals who then founded a nationalist coalition with the extreme right and led anti-immigration rallies in the 2000s. A gun-rights activist who made ads joking about shooting Muslims. Of course, none of this justifies his treatments. His rights are just as important as anybody else. But if Navalny had been a socialist or a trade unionist, I don’t think anybody here would know his name. Two hundred Palestinian journalists have been murdered since October. They don’t matter, because our ally killed them. It’s very clear we care nothing about oppressed civil society unless it’s in our geopolitical interest.
Debate: The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Márton Gyöngyösi
Political group: NI
Country: Poland
Language: EN

Mr President, colleagues, in Putin’s Russia, the scale of political murders against opponents, critics or rivals is starting to resemble Stalin’s Great Purge in the 1930s. Navalny’s death is a hero’s death and an enormous loss for all those yearning for a free and democratic Russia. It also shows, however, the enormous challenge Putin’s opposition faces. Everyone knows why Putin’s critics fall out of windows. Everyone knows who orders the assassinations, poisonings and abductions of Russian dissidents on the territory of the EU. But nobody understands why the EU does nothing to defend itself. Nobody knows why Putin’s puppets within the EU have not been sanctioned so far. We don’t know why the EU doesn’t stop Russian secret service activity on its own territory, and we haven’t heard of measures the EU will take against Putin’s accomplices who shake his hand, model his regime, echo his narrative and say cynically to those remembering Alexei Navalny that he ‘doesn’t deserve respect’. The quote is from Viktor Orbán, for the sake of all those who do not know it and could not guess.
Debate: The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Isabel Wiseler-Lima
Political group: PPE
Country: Czechia
Language: FR

Monsieur le Président, la mort d’Alexeï Navalny, un crime dont le régime russe est responsable, a fait remonter en moi un énorme cri de colère, une révolte profonde. Ce régime autoritaire, dictatorial qu’est le régime russe de Vladimir Poutine écrase tous ceux qui s’opposent à lui en les éliminant comme si c’étaient des pions, et non des êtres humains. Il écrase les opposants politiques, mais aussi tous ceux qui, simples citoyens, avocats ou journalistes, expriment la vérité. Les prisons regorgent de prisonniers qui n’ont commis d’autre délit que de proclamer la vérité. J’évoquerai le nom de la journaliste Alsu Kurmasheva, qui attend en prison sans rien savoir du sort qui lui est réservé. Il est de notre devoir de soutenir ceux qui, en Russie et partout dans le monde, luttent pour la vérité, la liberté et la démocratie. Et chez nous, nous avons l’obligation de combattre ces partis extrêmes qui justifient le régime russe, qui participent à la menace contre nos valeurs et institutions démocratiques de manière ouverte ou souterraine. Je voudrais finir sur les mots d’Alexeï Navalny: «If they decide to kill me, you are not allowed to give up». Nous continuerons à mener une lutte constante pour la liberté et la démocratie.