Sir, – It is truly bizarre, though not actually surprising, that Amnesty International has revoked Alexei Navalny's "prisoner of conscience" status because of politically incorrect statements made in the past and now highlighted by pro-Kremlin stooges ("Amnesty revokes Alexei Navalny's 'prisoner of conscience' status", World, February 24th).
Only in January, Amnesty released the following statement: “Aleksei Navalny’s arrest is further evidence that Russian authorities are seeking to silence him. His detention only highlights the need to investigate his allegations that he was poisoned by state agents acting on orders from the highest levels.”
No wonder Vladimir Putin thinks so little of western democracy when supposed human rights defenders are so easily manipulated. – Yours, etc,
MATTHEW
GLOVER,
Lucan,
Co Dublin.