Russia: German statements on Navalny case 'tainted' with politics

Russian Foreign Ministry official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Photo: TASS

Official spokesman ofRussian Foreign MinistryMaria Zakharova responded to German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas's statement regarding the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and answered a number of questions from Berlin, including the official statement of the Russian authorities.

Previously, on September 6,German Foreign MinisterHeiko Maas said Germany will discuss possible sanctions against Russia over the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny if the Kremlin does not soon provide an explanation.

“If the examination and treatment of patients is taking place, then why is it possible to make political statements, especially with an accusatory bias? In principle, why should politicians be the ones to start talking about investigations and diagnoses, and not representatives of German law enforcement agencies and health officials?” - Maria Zakharova said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman also asked the German side why, despite Moscow having sent a request to exchange information about the Navalny case, the Russian Embassy in Berlin has not yet received an official response. "And why has Germany not disclosed the data it has mentioned?" - Ms. Zakharova added.

Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Haiko Mass stressed that if Russia does not cooperate in the coming days to clarify what happened, Germany will be forced to discuss with its allies about response measures.

In the strongest accusations yet from Berlin, the German diplomat also said there were "some signs" that Russia was behind the poisoning of Alexei Navalny.