'Russia gas pipeline project to continue': Angela Merkel amid ongoing Navalny row

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that ongoing row with Moscow concerning arrest and sentencing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny will t affect rd Stream 2 gas pipeline project, which Germany is bilaterally building with Russia. Merkel on Friday assured that gas pipeline project will remain unaffected despite Navalny issue, which Germany, along with European Union have raised with Russia. rd Stream 2 project, which is nearing completion, will fetch Russian gas into Germany via a pipeline being laid under Baltic Sea. 

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United States has alrey imposed sanctions on project fearing it would make Germany and European Union more dependent on Russia for energy resources. However, Merkel has assured that geopolitics in region will t change and insisted that European Union will t become dependent on Russia. Last month, Germany gave permission to resume work on project, which was halted after a Swiss firm pulled out amid threats of sanctions from United States. 

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Pressure renewed

However, controversial project suffered ar blow late last month when European Union opted a resolution seeking immediate suspension of work on 1,230-kilometer pipeline in wake of Navalny issue. Merkel has been facing both external and internal pressure to drop project, including from her own party colleagues. pressure tightened after Russian opposition leer Alexei Navalny's poisoning last year allegedly by Kremlin.

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Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron, who h earlier expressed opposing views to pipeline project, said on Friday that he is in "solidarity". Merkel is also hoping that new ministration in Washington will halt US sanctions that are expected to come into effect from February 14. Pressure on Merkel renewed after Russian authorities arrested Navalny upon returning from Germany following medical treatment. Navalny was receiving treatment in Berlin for five months after he was poisoned last August, which sparked international outr.  

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(With inputs from AP)