Merkel: Response to Navalny poisoning depends on Russia
BERLIN, September 3
Chancellor Angela Merkel reiterated on Thursday that any German or European response to the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny depends on whether Russia helps clear up the case. Speaking at a news conference with the Swedish Prime Minister, she said she had nothing further to add to her statement on Wednesday when she condemned the attempted murder of a Russian opposition figure and demanded Moscow’s help. Meanwhile, the Kremlin rejected accusations that Russia was responsible for the poisoning of Navalny and said it saw no grounds for sanctions to be imposed against Moscow over the case.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow rejected any suggestion that Russia had been behind the attack on Navalny and warned other countries against jumping to hasty conclusions.
Merkel has said Germany would consult its NATO allies about how to respond to the poisoning. She faced growing pressure on Thursday to reconsider the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which will take gas from Russia to Germany, after her statement on Navalny, who is being treated in a Berlin hospital. Nord Stream 2 is set to double the capacity of the existing Nord Stream 1 pipeline in carrying gas directly from Russia to Germany. It is more than 90% finished and due to operate from early 2021. Peskov said the Kremlin regarded talk of taking action against the pipeline as being based on emotions. He said the project was a commercial one, which benefited Russia, Germany and Europe. — Reuters
