Czechia among EU states calling for fresh sanctions against Russia over Navalny’s death

Eight European Union countries, including Czechia, are calling for sanctions on Russia's prosecutors, courts and penitentiary officials over the death earlier this month of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. A letter to the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell was signed by the foreign ministers of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Sweden and Romania. Officials later said it was also supported by the Netherlands, France, Ireland and Denmark, bringing total number to 12 countries. "Mr Navalny's death is yet another sign of the accelerating and systematic repression in Russia. This calls for collective action," the foreign ministers' letter, cited by Reuters, said.