The poisoning of the Russian opposition leader Navalny with the nerve poison novichok is “alarming”. That is what the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons says.
Poisoning an individual with a nerve agent is considered by the OPCW to be the use of chemical weapons. The organization continues to monitor the situation, a statement said.
The states that have signed the Chemical Weapons Convention regard the use of these weapons as reprehensible in all circumstances and in violation of international law, said CEO Fernando Arias.
‘Logic is missing’
The German government said earlier that there is unequivocal evidence that Navalny was poisoned with novichok, the nerve agent used two years ago by former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal, who was poisoned along with his daughter. Novichok has been on the OPCW’s list of banned poisons since last year.
The Russian government denies any involvement in the poisoning of Navalny. According to a spokesman, there is no logic as to why the Kremlin should, “because it does not benefit anyone”.
A top executive of the Russian secret service did not rule out that the situation in Navalny is a result of “provocations of special Western services”.
Merkel demands an explanation
German Chancellor Merkel says the Russian opposition leader has fallen victim to a crime in order to silence him. She demands an explanation from Moscow. The German response to Navalny’s poisoning, she says, depends on the Russian response.
The German government is under political pressure to declare sanctions against Russia, for example by even withdrawing from the large oil pipeline project Nord Stream, which is being built to transport Russian gas to Europe.
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