Germany has increased the pressure on Russia Alexei Navalny Poisoning Investigation

(BERLIN) – Germany on Sunday increased pressure on Russia in the poisoning of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, warning that the lack of support from Moscow in the study was the “strength” Germany the fate of a gas pipeline Russian-German to reconsider the project. “I hope that the Russians will not constrain our position in relation to the Nord Stream 2 to change the” pipeline is said to Bild am Sonntag weekly built under the Baltic Sea, the German Minister of Foreign Heiko Maas. Maas also said that “if it is not a contribution of the Russian side, the survey in the next few days in terms of, we will have to consult with our partners.” He did not rule out possible sanctions against Russia to tell the newspaper that such measures should “actually shown.” However, Maas also acknowledged that the construction of the nearly finished stop the pipeline would stop the German damage and European companies. “he asked from the consequences aware,” he said. “More than 100 companies from 12 countries Europeans (under construction) involved, about half of them from Germany imme. “the federal government has come under increasing pressure to use Russian-German gas pipeline project for the town as a lever in Russia to provide answers ar Navalny. The Nord Stream 2 project would transport Russian gas directly to Germany via the Baltic Sea when it is complete, bypassing Ukraine. Navalny, a Kremlin critic and corruption investigators, became ill with a flight to Moscow last month and was sent to the Siberian city of Omsk in a hospital. E ‘in a hospital in Berlineren artificial coma since being transported in August in Germany for the treatment of 22 German authorities said the evidence showed that he had been poisoned with a chemical nerve agent from Novichok group. The British authorities previously identified the poison nerve, while the Soviet period developed as the poison used by the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England goal in 2018. “We need to have high expectations for the Russian light on this serious crime, “Maas said. “If you have nothing to do with the attack, then it is in their interest to put the facts on the table.” France also the pressure on Sunday, suggesting the possibility of sanctions if Moscow to respond quickly to European demands answers to poisoning Navalny failed. “It ‘a serious situation. And’ serious first because it is the poisoning of another opposition. And it is serious because the substance that was used Novichok prohibited,” said Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian French Foreign , speaking on France Inter radio. “(The Russians) have to tell the truth, so that you can act upon us now … When we say quick, it’s fast that a week has to say now. It is a traumatic event for everyone, it is amazing, something for everyone. So, the Russians should take the necessary measures, and i hope they do, “he said. The spokesman for President Vladimir Putin has wiped out the charges that the Kremlin was involved in poisoning and Navalny said last week that Germany had not asked for state politicians with the evidence available to Moscow. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova repeated statement in Moscow on Sunday that Germany had presented no evidence, like Russia, has called for the end of August. “Dear Mr. Maas, when the government of the Federal Republic of Germany in its comments is sincere, then it should be in preparing a response to the request of the Prosecutor General of Russia soon be interested,” Zakharova wrote in a Facebook post. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has Navalny poisoned an assassination attempt said to silence targeted one of the most acute critics of Putin and called for a full investigation. Merkel personally offered to help the country Navalny during treatment. It is now in stable condition at the Berlin Charité, but doctors expect a recovery long and have not ruled out that the effects 44 years, long-term might face on his health. Merkel has so far rejected the idea that the Navalny case should be connected to the North Stream-2 pipeline. The United States has long been the project than it has always been a source of friction between Berlin and Washington. In early August three Republican senators have threatened sanctions against an operator of a port in the Baltic constituency Merkel about his role in the Nord Stream connecting 2. The Mukran involved a key port of call for ships under construction. The United States supports the project of European security compromise from Germany too dependent on Russian gas. And ‘to be excluded through the pipeline under the Baltic Sea, as well as in some other European nations also from Ukraine and Poland as well. In addition to security concerns, the United States wants even more precisely liquefied natural gas or LNG, to sell in Europe. ___ John Leicester contributed reporting from Moscow to Paris, Jim Heintz.
Photo copyright Stefanie Loos pool via AP