Protester for Alexei Navalny -

Kommersant / SIPA

While the UN calls for a "thorough" investigation of Moscow, the great powers of the G7 on Tuesday urged Russia to bring "urgently" to justice the authors of "confirmed poisoning" of the opponent Alexeï Navalny.

In a statement, the foreign ministers of Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom claim to be "united in condemnation, in stronger, from the confirmed poisoning of Alexei Navalny ”.

G7 recalls Russia's commitment to chemical weapons

"We, G7 foreign ministers, call on Russia to urgently be fully transparent about the identity of those responsible for this detestable poisonous attack and to bring the perpetrators to justice", they insist, recalling the "commitments" of Moscow with regard to the Chemical Weapons Convention.

"Any use of chemical weapons, anywhere, at any time, by anyone and whatever the circumstances, is unacceptable and contrary to international standards", underline the ministers, in this press release released by the United States, chairing the G7 this year.

“This attack on opposition leader Navalny is another serious blow to democracy and political plurality in Russia.

It poses a serious threat to these men and women who defend political and civic freedoms, ”they add.

The G7 promises to "follow closely" the Russian response to international requests for explanations.

A Franco-Russian meeting canceled

Earlier today, France said it was postponing a meeting of French and Russian foreign and defense ministers scheduled for September 14 in Paris.

"In view of the current circumstances and after an exchange with the Russian authorities, it was decided to postpone the meeting of the Franco-Russian Council for Cooperation on Security Questions to a later date," said the spokesperson for the French ministry. of Foreign Affairs, Agnès von der Mühll.

President Macron's scheduled visit to Moscow in the coming weeks could also be called into question by the Navalny affair.

“Everything is possible,” notes a French diplomatic source.

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