Navalny family mulls taking France to European court: lawyer
PARIS: The family of late Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny is considering taking France to the European Court of Human Rights in a case that implicates French cosmetics firm Yves Rocher, a lawyer said on Tuesday.
In 2014, Navalny and his brother Oleg were found guilty of fraud and money laundering via their transport and logistics firm which was working with Yves Rocher.
The brothers later took Yves Rocher to court in France over alleged false accusations but their complaint was dismissed by the courts.
'We are considering taking the case to the European Court of Human Rights,' said William Bourdon, who represents Navalny's family.
'It was our duty to go all the way with his wife, in memory of Alexei,' he said, referring to the opposition politician's widow Yulia Navalnaya.
In 2013, Russian investigators accused the Navalny brothers of 'stealing' and laundering millions of rubles from Yves Rocher and a Russian firm.
The indictment followed a protracted investigation, which Navalny dismissed as persecution over his political activities.
Oleg served three-and-a-half years in prison and was released in 2018, while Alexei received a three-and-a-half-year suspended sentence.
Yves Rocher, one of the first foreign cosmetics brands to enter Russia in 1991 after the Soviet Union's demise, eventually acknowledged publically that it had sustained 'no damage' in the money laundering case.
But in 2021, Russian authorities used the old embezzlement charges to jail Navalny. He died three years later in unclear circumstances, with his family saying he was killed on President Vladimir Putin's orders.
'I'm in jail due to a criminal complaint by a French company,' Navalny said in 2022, referring to Yves Rocher.
In 2017, the European Court of Human Rights denounced the Russian court for its original ruling that was 'arbitrary and manifestly unreasonable,' ordering that the brothers be paid 83,000 euros ($93,000) in damages and costs.
Alexei and Oleg Navalny then filed a false accusation complaint in the western French city of Vannes, nor far from Yves Rocher's headquarters, and an inquiry was opened in 2019.
'We do believe that we will find here a real and fair justice which unfortunately we cannot find in Russia,' Alexei Navalny said at the time.
However, French judges eventually dropped the inquiry, and on Tuesday, the Court of Cassation, the highest court of the French judicial system, upheld the decision after an appeal by Navalny's family.
'We are disappointed that the Vannes court was too cautious, which benefited Yves Rocher,' said Bourdon.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leaders
14 hours ago
- Leaders
Ukraine, Russia Prepare for Major POW Exchange Next Week
Ukraine announced on Sunday that a significant exchange of prisoners of war (POW) with Russia will commence next week, following mutual accusations from both nations regarding delays and obstructions in the process, highlighting the fragile nature of their negotiations amidst ongoing hostilities. Moscow has accused Kyiv of postponing the swap, while Ukraine claims Russia is engaging in manipulative tactics. These tensions surfaced after Russia launched a substantial drone and missile attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine's eastern city. Despite these challenges, both countries have reaffirmed their commitment to the exchange, which includes returning the bodies of fallen soldiers. Negotiations and Agreements The negotiations, held in Istanbul, resulted in an agreement to repatriate prisoners and the remains of soldiers starting next week. Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's defense intelligence, confirmed this schedule on social media. The agreement, reached on June 2, marks a critical step in the ongoing conflict, offering a glimmer of hope for the families of the captured and deceased soldiers. The planned exchange will involve all severely wounded and sick prisoners of war, as well as young soldiers aged 18 to 25. This comprehensive swap aims to address the humanitarian aspects of the conflict, providing relief to the most vulnerable captives. Additionally, both sides agreed to return the bodies of 6,000 fallen soldiers, a move that underscores the grim reality of the prolonged war. Previous Exchanges and Current Progress Previous prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia have generally proceeded without major issues. For instance, Ukraine recently shot down a Russian Su-35 warplane, demonstrating its ongoing defensive capabilities. The successful operation in the Kursk direction highlights Ukraine's resilience amidst continuous aggression. Despite the progress, the path to a full ceasefire remains contentious. Russia has resisted Ukraine's proposals for an unconditional ceasefire, instead offering a partial truce. Ukrainian officials have expressed their desire to continue peace talks, aiming for a more comprehensive agreement that could pave the way for lasting peace. Turkey has played a crucial role in facilitating these negotiations, offering to host further discussions between the leaders of both nations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed optimism about the potential for future talks, emphasizing the need for international support to achieve a sustainable resolution. As the planned exchange approaches, the international community watches closely, hoping for a successful implementation that could alleviate some of the suffering caused by the conflict. The upcoming weeks will be critical in determining whether this exchange can build momentum towards a more lasting peace. Short link : Post Views: 2
Saudi Gazette
15 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Israel's defense minister vows to prevent aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg reaching Gaza
JERUSALEM — Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that Israel wouldn't allow anyone to break its naval blockade of the Palestinian territory, which he said was aimed at preventing Hamas from importing arms. In a post on X Katz announced that he has instructed the Israeli Defense Force "to act to prevent the Madleen hate flotilla" from reaching the strip's coast: "You should turn back -- because you will not reach Gaza." Thunberg is among 12 activists aboard the Madleen, which is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. The vessel departed Sicily last Sunday on a mission that aims to break the sea blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid, while raising awareness over the growing humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave. The activists had said they planned to reach Gaza's territorial waters as early as Sunday. Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, is among the others onboard. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies toward the Palestinians. Also on board is "Game of Thrones" star Liam Cunningham. After a three-month total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month, but humanitarian workers have warned of famine unless the blockade and the war end. An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group's vessels was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship. Israel denied the allegations. — Euronews
Saudi Gazette
2 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
Massive Russian aerial attack targets Kharkiv
KYIV — A large Russian attack with drones and missiles has hit Ukraine's eastern city of Kharkiv on Saturday, killing at least three people and injuring 21, local officials said. The barrage — the latest in near-daily widescale attacks — included aerial glide bombs that have become part of a fierce Russian onslaught in the three-year war. The intensity of the Russian attacks on Ukraine over the past weeks has further dampened hopes that the warring sides could reach a peace deal anytime soon — especially after Kyiv recently embarrassed the Kremlin with a surprise drone attack on military air bases deep inside Russia. According to Ukraine's Air Force, Russia struck with 215 missiles and drones overnight, and Ukrainian air defenses shot down and neutralized 87 drones and seven missiles. Several other areas in Ukraine were also hit, including the regions of Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, and the city of Ternopil, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X. 'To put an end to Russia's killing and destruction, more pressure on Moscow is required, as are more steps to strengthen Ukraine,' he said. Kharkiv's mayor Ihor Terekhov said the attack also damaged 18 apartment buildings and 13 private homes. Terekhov said it was 'the most powerful attack' on the city since the full-scale invasion in 2022. Kharkiv's regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said two districts in the city were struck with three missiles, five aerial glide bombs and 48 drones. Among the injured were two children, a month and a half year old baby boy and a 14-year old girl, he added. The attack on Kharkiv comes one day after Russia launched one of the fiercest missile and drone barrages on Ukraine, striking six Ukrainian territories and killing at least killing at least six people and injuring about 80. Among the dead were three emergency responders in Kyiv, one person in Lutsk and two people in Chernihiv. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force said it shot down a Russian Su-35 fighter jet on the Kursk front inside Russia, the Ukrainian daily Ukrainskaia Pravda reported. No more details were given immediately. US President Donald Trump said this week that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, told him Moscow would respond to Ukraine's attack on Russian military airfields last Sunday with "Operation Spiderweb" In a new statement bound to cause offense in Kyiv and amongst its allies, Trump told journalists on board Air Force One on Friday evening local time when asked about "Operation Spiderweb": "They gave Putin a reason to go in and bomb the hell out of them last night. That's the thing I didn't like about it. When I saw it I said 'Here we go, now it's going to be a strike'." — BBC
