The European Union stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin bears the "ultimate responsibility" for the death of Alexei Navalny and paid tribute to the late opposition leader on the anniversary of his death.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaya Kalas said Navalny "gave his life for a free and democratic Russia" and called for the release of all political prisoners in the country, AFP reported.

"Today marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Russian opposition leader, politician Alexei Navalny, for which President Putin and the Russian authorities bear the greatest responsibility," Kalas said.

The charismatic Navalny was Putin's main opponent who campaigned against government corruption. He died a year ago while imprisoned in a remote Arctic penal colony.

Russian authorities never fully explained his death, which occurred while he was walking in the prison yard.

"While Russia intensifies its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, it also continues its domestic repression targeting those who fight for democracy," Kalas pointed out.

Navalny's lawyers remain "unjustly imprisoned, along with hundreds of political prisoners," she noted.

"Russia must immediately and unconditionally release Alexei Navalny's lawyers and all political prisoners," the EU foreign policy chief added.

Navalny has been branded an "extremist" by Russian authorities. That decision remains in force despite his death, which came less than a month before the presidential election that extended Putin's rule that has lasted more than two decades.

In Russia, anyone who mentions Navalny or his Anti-Corruption Fund without indicating that they have been declared an "extremist" is subject to a fine or up to four years in prison for a repeat offense.

Until his death, the 47-year-old continued to urge Russians to stand up to the Kremlin and condemn Moscow's offensive in Ukraine, even behind bars. | BGNES