Russia denies there may be any proof that Alexei Navalny was poisoned.
Moscow:
The Kremlin on Thursday rejected claims that Moscow was behind the poisoning of opposition chief Alexei Navalny, as calls mounted for worldwide motion after Germany mentioned he had been dosed with Novichok.
Western leaders are demanding solutions from Moscow after Berlin mentioned Wednesday there was “unequivocal proof” that the 44-year-old Kremlin critic had been by the notorious nerve agent.
Navalny, one in all President Vladimir Putin’s fiercest critics, fell unwell on a flight final month and was handled in a Siberian hospital earlier than being evacuated to Berlin.
Germany’s declare that he was uncovered to Novichok — the identical substance used towards Russian ex-double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter within the English city of Salisbury two years in the past — prompted widespread condemnation and calls for for an investigation.
Russia denies there may be any proof that Navalny was poisoned and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned Thursday that Berlin had not offered Moscow with proof.
“There is no such thing as a purpose to accuse the Russian state,” Peskov mentioned, rejecting speak of financial sanctions and urging the West to not “rush to judgement”.
Already affected by wide-ranging Western sanctions imposed over its 2014 annexation of Crimea, in addition to the results of the coronavirus pandemic and the drop in oil costs, Moscow can be anxious to keep away from any additional strain on its economic system.
German officers briefed the opposite 26 EU nations in Brussels on Navalny.
EU international affairs spokesman Peter Stano mentioned a “thorough, clear” investigation was wanted to establish these accountable.
“We aren’t there but,” he mentioned when requested about sanctions.
– ‘Poisoned relations with West’ –
Germany’s announcement despatched the ruble plunging to its lowest degree towards the euro since 2016 and Moscow’s RTS inventory change fell greater than three %.
“Russia’s relations with the West have as soon as once more been poisoned by Novichok,” wrote enterprise day by day Kommersant.
“The primary query is, how far will they resolve to go?” it mentioned.
On the streets of Moscow, some expressed fears of a brand new hit for the Russian economic system.
“I feel some sanctions can be imposed and the entire scenario is kind of tragic. It is fairly worrisome,” mentioned Mikhail, a monetary analyst who refused to provide his surname.
Others dismissed the risk, pointing to authorities claims that sanctions had helped diversify Russia’s economic system away from oil and fuel.
“The federal government says that our economic system is enhancing because of sanctions and we’re starting to seem like a developed nation moderately than a fuel station,” mentioned Pavel Shkalikov, a journey agent.
A brand new disaster in relations with the West might additionally threaten Russia’s Nord Stream 2 venture, a 10 billion-euro ($11 billion) pipeline which is about to double Russian pure fuel shipments to Germany.
The venture has been delayed for months after Washington moved to impose new sanctions on firms concerned in Nord Stream 2, over fears of rising Russian affect.
Germany voiced anger over the US strikes, saying Washington was interfering in its inner affairs.
However the nation’s largest newspaper Bild on Thursday referred to as for the venture to be suspended, saying that “if the (German) authorities doesn’t cease the development of Nord Stream 2, we are going to quickly be financing Putin’s Novichok assaults”.
– ‘Grave concern’ –
German Chancellor Angela Merkel mentioned the Novichok findings raised “some very critical questions that solely Russia can and should reply”, whereas the US, Britain, France, the EU and NATO all expressed shock.
The pinnacle of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the world chemical arms watchdog, expressed “grave concern” and added that the Hague-based physique was prepared to assist any member nation.
Navalny fell unwell after boarding a airplane in Siberia final month, with aides saying they think he drank a cup of spiked tea on the airport.
He was initially handled in a neighborhood hospital, the place docs mentioned they have been unable to search out any poisonous substances in his blood, earlier than he was flown to Berlin for specialised therapy on August 22.
The charismatic Yale-educated lawyer remains to be within the intensive care unit and stays on a ventilator.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
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