BERLIN (GERMANY) – Foreign Minister Heiko Maas of Germany has urged the EU to impose sanctions against Russia over the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny with a banned nerve agent.
Navalny recovered from a coma after falling sick on a flight in Siberia following which he was airlifted to Berlin for treatment. German doctors found out he was poisoned with Russian nerve agent Novichok.
The governments of Germany, France and other Western nations have sought an explanation from Russia. Moscow has said there is no evidence to prove that he was poisoned and denied any involvement in the incident.
“I am convinced that there will be no longer any way around sanctions,” Maas said on Saturday.
“Sanctions must always be targeted and proportionate. But such a grave violation of the International Chemical Weapons Convention cannot be left unanswered. On this, we’re united in Europe,” Maas added.
