[ad_1]
Published in: Last update:
Moscow (AFP)
The Kremlin announced on Thursday that it sees “no justification” for accusing the Russian state of being behind the poisoning of opposition Alexei Navalny, and called on the West not to make “hasty judgments.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: “There is no justification for indicting the Russian state,” and emphasized Moscow’s willingness to “dialogue” with Berlin and the Europeans on this issue.
Peskov stressed that Russian doctors did not detect “any toxic substances” when Navalny was admitted to a hospital in Siberia in late August before being transferred to Berlin.
“We have not yet received any information” from Germany about the tests that led to the Navalny poisoning, he added.
He said: “In general, I do not think that poisoning this person could be of benefit to anyone,” adding: “We would like our partners in Germany and other European countries not to make hasty judgments.”
The spokesman also confirmed that he sees “no justification” for imposing sanctions on Russia on this issue.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Moscow on Wednesday to provide clarification after tests conducted for Navalny in Germany showed that he had been poisoned by a “Novichok” substance.
This neurotoxic substance was previously used against former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in 2018 in England, as confirmed by British authorities, who held the Russian state responsible.
© 2020 AFP
