BERLIN, Sept 4 (Reuters) - The poisoning of Kremlin critic
Alexei Navalny, who is in intensive care in a Berlin hospital,
is damaging to Russia's leadership and makes it harder for
Germany to cooperate with Moscow, German President Frank-Walter
Steinmeier said.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday Navalny was
poisoned with a Soviet-style Novichok nerve agent in an attempt
to murder him and that Berlin would consult its NATO allies
about how to respond.
Russia has said there is no evidence of a crime when Navalny
fell ill in Siberia last month and until now not opened a
criminal investigation.
Steinmeier, a former German foreign minister with the Social
Democrats (SPD), told media group RND that Moscow must explain
what had happened to Navalny.
"The fact that opposition and critical voices in Russia have
to fear for their health or their lives is without doubt a heavy
burden on the credibility of the Russian leadership and makes
cooperation more difficult," he said in comments released on
Friday.
"We do not want hostility towards Russia or the Russian
people. But injustice must be called out clearly."
The firm tone to his comments is significant as many SPD
politicians tread a softer line on Russia ties than members of
Merkel's conservatives, some of whom want to reconsider the Nord
Stream 2 pipeline, which will take gas from Russia to Germany.
The SPD is now junior partner in Merkel's ruling coalition.
Steinmeier said it was up to Berlin to draw the consequences
of the case "in coordination with our European partners".
"Navalny has been severely poisoned with the aim of
silencing him. The most urgent questions are now directed at the
government in Moscow."
Navalny, 44, is an outspoken opponent of Russian President
Vladimir Putin and has specialised in high-impact investigations
into official corruption. He was airlifted to Germany last month
after collapsing on a domestic Russian flight after drinking a
cup of tea that his allies said was poisoned.
(Writing by Paul Carrel
Editing by Mark Heinrich)
