Cyprus News Agency

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the Russian leadership in her remarks at the Munich Security Conference.

Stating that investigations conducted by five European countries concluded that Alexei Navalny had been poisoned by Russia, von der Leyen described the incident as “a cowardly act.”

Linking Russia’s recent activities to “terrorism,” von der Leyen said, “Russia has long acted like a terrorist state and resorts to terrorist methods. Poisoning political opponents, silencing journalists, invading peaceful neighbors... This is the true face of Russia today.”

Emphasizing the repressive policies of Putin’s administration, von der Leyen concluded her remarks by saying, “We respectfully honor the memory of Alexei Navalny and all those whom Putin’s Russia has silenced through violence over the years.”