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The diplomatic dispute in the case of the poisoned Kremlin critic Navalny is gathering steam: the Russian Foreign Ministry has summoned the German ambassador and accuses the German government of bragging.
In the dispute over the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexej Navalny, Russia awaits the German ambassador in Moscow for an interview. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Sakharova announced on Facebook. The conversation should take place on Wednesday, he said from the German embassy.
According to Sakharova, Moscow expects Germany to present its findings on the case. That refers to the results of investigations in a Bundeswehr laboratory and statements from the German Foreign Ministry, he wrote. “It is time to put the cards on the table, because it is clear to everyone: Berlin is bragging to serve the dirty political rampage.”
The federal government demands responses from Moscow
Navalny is currently being treated at the Berlin Charité. The German government announced last week that, according to a Bundeswehr analysis, the Kremlin critic had been poisoned with war agent Novichok. The poison was developed by Soviet scientists in the 1970s. From the point of view of Nawalny supporters, the use of the neurotoxin suggests that only the Russian state may be responsible.
Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned Navalny’s “attempted poisoning” last week in exceptionally clear words. In a statement she said of the Kremlin critic: “It should be silenced.” The Russian government now has serious questions to answer. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Sunday in Berlin report: “Russia has to participate in the investigation. So far this has not been the case at all.” Maas reacted with incomprehension to the allegations that the federal government itself was obstructing the investigation. A request for legal assistance from Russia has long been approved.
UN human rights commissioner calls for cooperation
UN Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet has now called on the Moscow government to cooperate in a “thorough, transparent, independent and impartial investigation” of the case. The number of poison attacks and other forms of targeted killings of Russian citizens in the past two decades is “deeply disturbing,” Bachelet said. It is up to the Russian authorities to investigate who was responsible for the crime against Navalny.
Bachelet did not make direct accusations against Moscow, but stressed that neurotoxins like Novichok are very difficult substances to obtain. This raises numerous questions.
Navalny awakens from an artificial coma
According to the Charité, Navalny is no longer in an artificial coma and is gradually withdrawing from mechanical ventilation. The 44-year-old man already reacts when they speak to him. However, doctors did not rule out the long-term consequences of severe poisoning.
