On Monday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted that dubious claims about Navalny’s alleged novichok nerve agent poisoning appear to be following a “script (that) was written in advance.”
Russophobic establishment media reports about what happened have the distinct aroma of fake news like countless times before on issues relating to Moscow.
In response to Russia’s request for Berlin to provide verifiable evidence of what it claims happened to Navalny, “nothing, zero” was sent, nothing publicly revealed, said Zakharova.
Did Navalny fall ill naturally or from foul play? If the latter, cui bono?
Clearly not Russia. Dark forces in the US and their imperial partners alone benefit.
It’s also clear that claims by a German military lab that Navalny was novichoked were dubious at best.
Exposure to even a minute amount of the most deadly known substance causes death in minutes.
Navalny is very much alive over two weeks after falling ill, and according to reports from Berlin, his condition is improving.
Scratch the fake novichoking claim. Navalny either experienced a metabolic disorder as diagnosed by Russian doctors or became ill from something else yet to be revealed.
The former explanation seems most likely, the latter very much possible, perhaps foul play, and if proved from further independently verified analysis, nothing suggests Kremlin responsibility.
Moscow fosters cooperative relations with other countries, confrontation with none, Germany a valued economic and trade partner.
Wanting bilateral relations expanded to benefit both countries, clearly Kremlin officials would do nothing to undermine ties — what dark forces in Washington clearly seek.
Completing construction of Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany is vital for both nations.
On Monday, German government spokesman Steffen Seibert downplayed linking completion of the project’s construction to what happened to Navalny, saying it’s “too early” for a punitive response.
The gas pipeline is vital for other European countries besides Germany.
Russia proved time and again that it’s a reliable political, economic and trade partner.
Fostering the relationship between European capitals and Moscow is warranted. Undermining it is detrimental to the continent.
According to Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Russian authorities do not believe that Berlin wants Nord Stream 2 suspended or halted.
Asked about some remarks from German politicians related to undermining the project, Peskov said:
“(W)e see that for each such new statement, two statements appear, which speak about the absurdity of such proposals.”
Abandoning the pipeline would amount to Germany shooting itself in the foot to please Washington and its own Russophobic hardliners.
Moscow urged mutual cooperation with Germany to resolve things beneficially to both countries and other European ones that very much want low-cost Russian natural gas Nord Stream 2 will supply when completed.
According to German Eastern Business Association head Michael Harms, “(l)egally I think that is hardly possible” to stop completion of the pipeline, adding:
“All permits have been granted. The contracts are watertight — not only in Germany, but also in five countries plus under European regulations.”
While Angela Merkel doesn’t rule out punitive actions against Russia over what happened to Navalny, it makes no economic sense for her to halt completion of the project.
Former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt once said “those who trade with each other do not shoot each other.”
Russo/German relations are largely positive. In January, RT noted that bilateral relations were “thawing. It’s good news for all Europeans.”
Russia and Germany are the continent’s two most important countries.
Positive relations are beneficial to both sides. Nurturing and developing them makes sense.
Without access to Russian hydrocarbon and other resources, Germany’s economy would be harmed.
Relations between Merkel and Putin are positive. Months after the Obama regime’s coup in Ukraine, followed by Crimeans voting overwhelmingly to rejoin Russia weeks later, Putin said the following about Russia’s relations with Germany’s chancellor in November 2014 at the G20 summit in Brisbane, Australia:
“(W)e are guided by interests instead of sympathies and antipathies,” adding:
“(S)he (Merkel) (is) also…guided by the same interests just like any other leader of a nation, state or government.”
“This is why I see neither considerable changes nor any substantial alterations in the nature of our relations.”
At the time, Merkel stressed the importance of dialogue with Russia despite differences over Ukraine.
Later she said “the fact that there are many serious conflicts around the world stresses the need to search for solutions.”
“We are responsible — both Germany and Russia as permanent members of the UN Security Council.”
“We must work on finding solutions…I hold the view that disagreements can only be resolved through negotiations.”
Her current view of bilateral relations with Russia is highly likely to be unchanged.
When both leaders met in Moscow in January this year, RT reported that they shared common views on ending conflict in Libya, preserving the JCPOA, and completing construction of Nord Stream 2 “in the face of US sanctions” that aim to undermine the project.
At the time, Putin said talks with Merkel focused on “most hot” issues.
Ahead of their meeting, deputy German government spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer said the following:
Berlin “noticed with regret that the sanctions initiated by the US Congress against Nord Stream 2 and Turkstream (pipelines) came into force after being signed by the US president,” adding:
“The federal government rejects such extraterritorial sanctions. They affect German and European companies and represent interference in our domestic affairs.”
If foul play was responsible for Navalny’s illness with the objective of undermining Nord Stream 2’s completion, achieving this aim is highly likely to fail.
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Award-winning author Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected]. He is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG)
His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
