Pandora box was opened - analyst on possible sanctions against Russian gas export

Record ID: 1569983

  • Title: Pandora box was opened - analyst on possible sanctions against Russian gas export
  • Date: 3rd September 2020
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (RECENT - AUGUST 27, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RUSSIAN CENTRAL BANK
  • Embargoed: 17th September 2020 13:26
  • Keywords: Germany Merkel Navalny Novichok alleged poisoning possible sanctions
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • City: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Europe,Government/Politics,Russia,International Trade
  • Reuters ID: LVA009CU4X6PZ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Russian business reacted sensitively to the news about investigation around Navalny due to the risks of possible restrictions against Russian gas export, macroeconomics advisor to the general director at Open broker company, Sergei Hestanov said on Thursday.
    The question of possible sanctions on gas export from Russia to Europe has never been raised at such a high level, so when it happened now, it is like the opening of a Pandora box, Hestanov added.
    Merkel said on Wednesday that Navalny, who is being treated in a Berlin hospital, was the victim of a murder attempt using the nerve agent Novichok, and demanded an explanation by Russia.
    Moscow has denied involvement in the incident and the Russian foreign ministry said Germany's assertion was not backed by evidence.
    Western countries have condemned the attack on Navalny and many German politicians want a tough response.
    "We must pursue hard politics, we must respond with the only language (Russian President Vladimir) Putin understands - that is gas sales," Norbert Roettgen, head of Germany's parliamentary foreign affairs committee, told German radio.
    "If the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is completed now, it would be the maximum confirmation and encouragement for Putin to continue this kind of politics," Roettgen, a member of Merkel's conservatives, told German television earlier.
    Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday said the Kremlin regarded talk of taking action against the pipeline as being based on emotions.
    He said the project was a commercial one which benefited Russia, Germany and Europe.
    And he rejected the premise that Russia deserved to be sanctioned over the case.
    (Production: Dmitry Madorsky, Dmitry Turlyun)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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