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Russian ambassador on the Navalny case: "We cannot accept ultimatums and threats with sanctions"

2020-09-22T21:38:12.047Z


Russia's ambassador to Germany warns against being assigned blame in the Alexei Navalny case - and speaks of a lack of evidence. The alleged assassination attempt is meanwhile also a topic at the United Nations.


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Russian Ambassador Sergei Netschajew: "We are currently lacking the willingness to cooperate on the German side"

Photo: Christoph Soeder / dpa

Russia's ambassador to Germany has warned against blaming his country in the case of the poisoned Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

An "anti-Russian hysteria" had been sparked, said Sergei Netschajew of the "Berliner Zeitung".

"What we cannot accept at all is the ultimate finding that the Russian government has something to do with the case. We cannot accept ultimatums and threats of sanctions."

Nechayev asked the German authorities to provide Russian investigators with evidence so that they could officially investigate.

So far there have only been preliminary investigations in Russia.

The federal government has asked Russia to clarify the case.

The 44-year-old Navalny is said to have been the target of an assassination attempt with a neurotoxin of the Novichok group, which is outlawed according to the chemical weapons ban.

Three special laboratories - one of the Bundeswehr and two others in France and Sweden - confirmed the weapons found.

The alleged assassination is also the subject of the general debate at the United Nations.

French head of state Emmanuel Macron called for clarification.

Everything must be brought to light, said Macron on Tuesday in a pre-recorded video message that was broadcast on screens in the session room of the UN General Assembly.

"This clarification process must happen quickly and without defects."

Macron warned that France's "red lines" should not be crossed.

Ambassador criticizes a lack of cooperation

The Russian ambassador Nechayev, meanwhile, criticized Russia for not handing over biomaterial from Navalny or evidence of poisoning.

Navalny's team had stated that the Russian state was responsible for the crime and had no interest in investigating it.

"We take the case absolutely seriously," said Nechayev.

However, working with Germany is not easy.

Responses to Russian requests for mutual legal assistance would be delayed.

A proposal by the Russian Medical Association to work with German colleagues was rejected.

And a request to look after Navalny as a Russian citizen consularly has not yet been answered, said Nechayev.

"We are currently lacking the willingness to cooperate on the German side."

Nechayev said there were many unanswered questions - such as why the poison hit Navalny but not anyone else from his team, hotel staff or hospitals.

Russia therefore hopes that the prosecutors of both countries will work together.

"For this we need the support of Germany, because without concrete evidence, of which a lot is spoken but little shown, we cannot do much at the moment."

With a view to allegations that the Russian leadership had poisoned Navalny, Nechayev said that Russian doctors first treated him and that Moscow ultimately cleared the way to Berlin.

In Berlin, Navalny has been treated at the Charité since August 22nd.

The Kremlin opponent claims to be on the way to recovery.

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ptz / dpa

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2020-09-22

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