Germany, France seek Russia sanctions over Navalny
October 7, 2020
Germany and France proposed EU sanctions on Russia over its involvement in the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a joint statement issued on Wednesday.
"Proposals will target individuals deemed responsible for this crime and breach of international norms, based on their official function, as well as an institution involved in the Novichok program," the statement said.
France and Germany saw no other "plausible explanation" than "Russian involvement and responsibility," after Russia had repeatedly failed to provide a credible explanation.
Navalny was flown to Germany two days after falling ill on August 20 during a domestic flight in Russia.
The UN's chemical weapons watchdog OPCW confirmed on Tuesday earlier findings that the opposition leader was poisoned by a nerve agent of the Soviet-developed Novichok group.
The proposal comes at the end of a day that saw both Navalny and German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass address the posioning incident and possible sanctions.
Maas threatens sanctions
Maas earlier Wednesday set the stage, threatening possible "targeted and disruptive sanctions'' if Russia failed to provide answers for the incident.
"A serious violation of international law was perpetrated with a chemical warfare agent, and something like that cannot remain without consequences," he told the Bundestag parliament.
"It is clear that if the events are not cleared up, if the necessary information is not provided, then targeted and proportionate sanctions against those responsible on the Russian side will be unavoidable."
Read more: Germany: EU must sanction Russia for Alexei Navalny poisoning
Maas called the attack "a serious breach of international law" and said Germany would coordinate a response with its European allies and at the OPCW in the coming days.
Read more: German Chancellor Merkel visited Kremlin critic Navalny in hospital
kmm/msh (Reuters, AP, AFP)