In an interview Jan. 22 with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany’s Christian Democratic Union Chairman Armin Laschet said the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia project should not be linked to the Jan. 17 arrest of Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny.
“The attack on Alexey Navalny must be strongly condemned. Now Russia must arrest those behind the attack instead of arresting Navalny. I also want his immediate release. But the issue of gas deliveries—whether they should take place via sea or ground pipelines—does not depend on that.” However, he ignored the fact that Russia’s effort to find out what happened was blocked by Germany, and also Britain, including its Porton Down CW lab, making any serious criminal investigation next to impossible.
