taken on March 14, 2018 A police cordon surrounds the area near a
bench covered in a protective tent at The Maltings shopping centre
in Salisbury, southern England, on March 14, 2018, where a man and
woman were found critically ill on March 4, after being apparently
poisoned with what was later identified as a nerve agent sparking a
major incident. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)
Russia on Sunday accused Germany of stalling efforts
to probe opposition politician Alexei Navalny’s case after Berlin
demanded Moscow provide an explanation over his poisoning or face
sanctions.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused
German authorities of failing to respond to a request by Russian
prosecutors sent on August 27.
She spoke after German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Russia
must soon provide an explanation over Navalny’s poisoning with
Novichok, a banned nerve agent developed in the Soviet Union.
“Dear Mr Maas, if the German government is sincere in its
statements then it should be interested in preparing a response to
a request of the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office as soon as
possible,” Zakharova said.
“So far we are not certain that Germany is not playing a double
game,” she added. “Where is the ‘urgency’ you are insisting
upon?
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“By not sending its answer, Berlin is stalling the process of
investigation for which it’s calling. On purpose?”
Germany, the current head of the European Union, will discuss
possible sanctions on Russia over the poisoning of Russian
President Vladimir Putin’s top foe if the Kremlin does not provide
an explanation soon, Maas said Sunday.
READ ALSO: German Foreign Minister Threatens
Sanctions Over Navalny Poisoning
Navalny fell ill on a flight last month and was treated in a
Siberian hospital before being evacuated to Berlin.
Germany said last week there was “unequivocal evidence” that the
Russian opposition leader had been poisoned using Novichok.
“If in the coming days Russia does not help clarify what
happened, we will be compelled to discuss a response with our
allies,” Maas told German daily Bild.
Any sanctions decided should be “targeted”, he added.
Western leaders and many Russians have expressed horror at what
Navalny’s allies say is the first known use of chemical weapons
against a high-profile opposition leader on Russian soil.
Earlier this week Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia had
“nothing to hide” and the Kremlin said Russian doctors had found no
proof Navalny was poisoned.
AFP
Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2020/09/06/russia-accuses-germany-of-stalling-navalny-probe/