Germany warns Russia of 'unavoidable' sanctions over Navalny
Germany warned Russia Wednesday of "unavoidable" targeted sanctions if it didn't reveal the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, as the Kremlin critic urged the EU to come down hard on Vladimir Putin's inner circle.
The stern message came a day after the UN's chemical weapons watchdog OPCW confirmed Germany, France and Sweden's finding that the Russian opposition leader was poisoned by a nerve agent of the Soviet-era Novichok group.
"A significant violation of international law was perpetrated with a chemical warfare agent, then one like this cannot remain without consequences," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told lawmakers.
"It really is clear that if the events aren't cleared up, if the necessary information is not provided, then targeted and proportionate sanctions against those responsible on the Russian side will be unavoidable."
Navalny was medically evacuated to Germany in late August after falling ill on a plane and spending several days in a Siberian hospital.
He was discharged after just over a month in the Berlin Charite hospital and has vowed to come back to Russia to resume his opposition campaign when he is fully recovered.
Western powers have demanded answers from Moscow. Navalny himself has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin to be behind the poisoning, noting that only top officials can deploy the military grade nerve agent.
But Russia has firmly rejected the allegations, lashing from Tuesday at a "conspiratorial scenario" planned in advance.
The case has plunged Russia's relations with Germany to a fresh low, since it comes simply a year after a murder in a central Berlin park that German prosecutors say was ordered by Moscow.
A Russian suspect is standing trial over the murder, with the court hearing opening Wednesday.
The brazen murder in the heart of the German capital were a tipping point for Chancellor Angela Merkel, who said in-may that the killing "disrupts a cooperation of trust" between Berlin and Moscow.
The German leader has always stressed the value of keeping dialogue open with Putin, but she's toughened up her tone in recent months.
ENTRY BAN
With tensions running high, calls had grown on Berlin to scrap a controversial 10-billion-euro (US$12 billion) pipeline project, which is defined to double Russian gas shipments to Germany.
Asked during the parliamentary question-time if the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project could be hit, Maas suggested that any embargo will be limited to individuals.
"We've always said that options are on the table, but we want to acknowledge the reaction with the EU," he said.
He noted that the pipeline project also involved other countries including Austria and holland and more than 100 European companies.
"In our opinion, following the discussions we had, it is probably for the EU to find agreement on a set of people" on whom sanctions will be imposed, he said.
The apparent plan for targeted embargoes dovetailed with Navalny's call.
The 44-year-old Kremlin critic, who's recovering in Berlin, urged europe to do this including entry bans against key figures in or backing Putin's government.
In an interview with Bild daily, the Kremlin critic took aim directly at Valery Gergiev, chief conductor at the Munich Philharmonic, citing the musician as a person who ought to be held to take into account his unapologetic backing of Putin.
"He is the perfect example. Such people must be put under great pressure," said Navalny.
"People like him must be slapped with entry bans and guess what happens? 99 percent of Russians would welcome that."
Navalny stressed that any embargo should never hurt the overall Russian population.
Rather, "the main is to impose entry bans against those profiting from the regime and freeze their assets," said Navalny.
"Oligarchs and high-ranking officials, Putin's closest circles," he said. -- AFP
