Escalation in the Navalny case: Even Chancellor Angela Merkel is no longer ruling out a construction freeze on Nord Stream 2.
Is Russian President Putin now bowing to the pressure?
Chancellor
Angela Merkel (CDU)
is
no longer
ruling out the
consequences of the
Nord Stream 2
project
because of the Navalny case
.
Federal Foreign Minister
Heiko Maas (SPD)
had previously
threatened
consequences for Russia in the project of the
Baltic Sea pipeline
.
The
German government
assumes that
Putin critic
Alexej Navalny was
poisoned
in
Russia
.
Berlin - After the
poison attack
on the Kremlin critic
Alexej Navalny *,
various members of the political establishment are calling for
the construction freeze or suspension of the construction of the Baltic Sea pipeline
Nord Stream 2
as a consequence for Russian President
Vladimir Putin
.
Now Chancellor
Angela Merkel (CDU) *
considered stopping the project for the first time.
Merkel "joined" the corresponding statements made by
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) over
the weekend, government
spokesman Steffen Seibert
told journalists in Berlin.
The
Chancellor *
was of the opinion that "it would be wrong to exclude something".
You have not yet
spoken
to Putin about the
Navalny * case
, Seibert said, according to
focus.de
.
The
Nord Stream 2
pipeline
is being built through the Baltic Sea and is intended to transport natural gas from Russia to Germany.
Maas had hinted: "I do not hope that the Russians will force us
to change
our stance on
Nord Stream 2.
" Merkel is working with Maas "on this important issue", said Seibert.
The federal government has the "clear expectation" that
Moscow will
declare
itself
on the
Navalny case
.
Russia denies being involved in the poisoning of the opposition party.
If there are no contributions on the Russian side to investigate the attack on Mr #Nawalny in the next few days, we will have to discuss an answer with our partners.
The attack is a serious violation of international law.
https://t.co/OJrGJMH0U3
- Heiko Maas 🇪🇺 (@HeikoMaas) September 6, 2020
Navalny case: Chancellor Angela Merkel describes Russian opposition activists as "victims of a crime"
“Alexei Navalny is the
victim of a crime
.
He should be silenced, and I condemn that too on behalf of the entire federal government to the strongest possible terms, "Merkel declared. The
federal government
had a special laboratory of the Armed Forces informed by studies that they as it
undoubtedly
look proven that Navalny with the military
neurotoxin Novichok
had been poisoned.
As far as the stand of Nord Stream 2 is concerned,
tens of thousands of
concrete-coated
pipe sections
are already lying
on the floor of the Baltic Sea, each weighing a good
24 tons
.
Welded together, they form the two strands of the gas pipeline, which is around
1,230 kilometers in
length
.
Most of the route runs parallel to the existing Nord Stream pipeline.
+
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU)
© Michael Sohn / AP-Pool / dpa
Nord Stream 2: Trump administration wants to prevent construction - critics accuse USA of export interests
The starting point is the Russian Baltic coast west of
St. Petersburg
, the destination is Lubmin not far from
Greifswald
.
The huge double tube is not yet finished - resistance from the
USA has
delayed its completion so far.
The administration under
US President Donald Trump *
imposed
sanctions in
late 2019
to prevent completion of the pipeline.
In mid-July, the US government threatened further sanctions.
The US argue that Germany and Europe would become
energy-dependent
on Moscow.
Critics accuse the USA of only
wanting to
export
its own
liquefied gas
at the highest possible prices
.
At a higher level, Europe's concern about being too
dependent
on Russian natural gas also plays a role.
The country currently covers almost
a third of
the EU's needs.
The EU wants to reduce its dependence.
This could
two Nord Stream
but contrary, the
EU Commission
is therefore against the building.
(frs with material from AFP)
* Merkur.de belongs to the Ippen digital editorial network.
List of rubric lists: © Michael Sohn / AP-Pool / dpa