Russian ambassador to Ireland, Yury Filatov, on Wednesday pointed out the inappropriateness and unacceptability of the Irish authorities’ statements in connection with Mr Navalny’s death.

According to a statement, Mr Filatov expressed these thoughts during a meeting with the secretary general of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, Joe Hackett.

“It was emphasised that the allegations and accusations made by the Irish side, including in public by the Irish prime minister and foreign minister, are nothing more but politically motivated speculation on Navalny’s death with the clear intention of using this to attack and demonise Russia.

“The Irish side has been informed that this is unacceptable, intolerable, and indeed inappropriate,” the document said.

Ireland sought to blame the Russian authorities for the incident and called for an independent international investigation into the opposition politician’s death, the Russian embassy said.

The document also said Mr Filatov “categorically rejected these statements as a direct and unacceptable interference in Russia’s internal affairs,” adding that the Russian authorities were carrying out procedures prescribed by law to determine all the circumstances of the incident.

Last Friday, Russia’s penitentiary service said Navalny had died in prison, adding that the cause of death was being investigated.

In January 2021, Navalny was arrested in Moscow upon arrival from Germany, where he had been receiving medical treatment for alleged poisoning in Russia.

In February of that year, a court revoked his suspended sentence in the 2014 Yves Rocher fraud case for multiple probation violations and sentenced him to two and a half years in prison.

In August 2023, Navalny was sentenced to 19 years in prison on extremism charges.

At the time, 47-year-old Navalny was already serving several sentences for fraud, embezzlement, contempt of court, and probation violation.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges. 

(Sputnik/NAN)