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Norway says Russian government bears ‘heavy responsibility’ in Navalny death

Moscow bears a "heavy responsibility" over the death on Friday of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny at an Arctic prison colony, Norway's foreign minister said.

Published: 17 February 2024 09:22 CET
UN-US-NORWAY
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide speaks to the press at UN headquarters in New York on January 23rd, 2024. Photo by: Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP

“The Russian government bears a heavy responsibility,” Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide wrote on X, formerly Twitter, adding that he was “deeply saddened by the news”.

Supporters of Alexei Navalny turned out across Europe and in the United States on Friday to pay tribute to the man widely acknowledged as Russia’s main opposition figure, even when he was behind bars.

Navalny’s death was announced earlier in the day by officials in the Arctic prison where he was serving a 19-year sentence.

From New York and Washington to cities in western Europe to capitals of former Soviet bloc states, mourners showed their respect for Navalny, a charismatic lawyer who rallied domestic opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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UKRAINE

Norway gives $103m to Ukraine to secure electricity

Norway said Sunday that it would provide 1.1 billion kroner ($103 million) to Ukraine to help repair its energy infrastructure and secure the country's electricity supply before next winter.

Published: 16 June 2024 12:40 CEST
Norway gives $103m to Ukraine to secure electricity

“Russia is carrying out massive, systematic attacks to paralyse the power grid, but Ukrainians are working day and night to maintain essential electricity supplies for the population,” Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said in a statement.

According to new estimates, more than 50 percent of Ukraine’s power production capacity has been destroyed, the government said.

“We are in close dialogue with Ukraine on how it can use these funds most effectively. The Ukrainians themselves have the best insight into what is needed,” Store said, adding that it was important to begin infrastructure repairs before the onset of winter.

Norway said it had already been decided that 120 million kroner would go toward repairs in the Kharkiv area, which has been hit particularly hard by Russian attacks recently.

Solar panels will be installed at seven maternity units and operating theatres in the Kharkiv area, Store said in the statement, which was issued as he attended a Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland.

In 2022, Norway provided 2.1 billion kroner in funding to the Ukrainian energy sector, and 1.9 billion kroner last year.

The Scandinavian country has pledged 75 billion kroner in military and civilian aid to Ukraine for the five-year period 2023-2027, with funding allocated each year in line with Ukraine’s needs.

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