Roberta METSOLA, EP President, gives her opening remarks on the safe release of the American journalist Evan Gershkovich jailed in Russia and on the worrying reports on the deteriorating health situation of the Sakharov Price winner Alexej Navalny. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

plenary session

EU - Russia (T)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

freedom of press and media (T)

NAVALNY, Alexei (RU)

president's agenda

Resumption of session and order of business: introductory remark by Roberta METSOLA, EP President on the safe release of the American journalist Evan Gershkovich, and on the worrying reports on the deteriorating health of Alexej Navalny

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, It's been 20 days since the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia. Let me reiterate our call for his safe release and underline the European Parliament's commitment to seeing him free as quickly as possible. Journalists must be able to do their job without fearing for their lives or their freedom. And this is a line that should not have been crossed.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, It is a pattern that we are witnessing again and again in Russia. Jailed opposition politician and Sakharov Prize laureate Alexei Navalny's condition remains of deep concern, with the journalists reporting it as critical. So from here, on behalf of the European Parliament, let me once again call for his immediate and unconditional release.