Russia must immediately release opposition leader Alexei Navalny and guarantee his safety, the European Commission believes.

Locking up political opponents goes against international agreements, warns chairman Ursula von der Leyen.

Navalny was immediately arrested in Russia on Sunday on his return from Germany, where he had recovered from a deadly murder attack in his homeland.

Brussels still expects Russia to have this attack investigated thoroughly and independently, Von der Leyen reminds.