US threatens to restrict funds for 'malign activities' over Navalny's poisoning

United States told UN Security Council on September 10 that it work with allies to hold people accountable for poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, including through “restricting funds for malign activities.” Citing toxicological test results, German health authorities h confirmed poisoning of Navalny with a Soviet-style nerve nt from vichok group.

"Alexei Navalny’s poisoning by a chemical weapon is completely reprehensible, and we condemn this action in strongest possible terms," said Cherith rman Chalet, deputy US ambassor to United Nations.

She told council that Russian people have a right to express ir views without fear of retribution of any kind. She said that any use of chemical weapons under any circumstances is unacceptable and contravenes international rms prohibiting use of such weapons.

rman Chalet urged Russia to be fully transparent cooperate with international community’s probe into this latest attack. ambassor reiterated that use of chemical weapons presents an “unacceptable security threat” to all states, urging members of Council to t stay silent. 

“Wherever evidence les, we will work with allies and international community to hold perpetrators accountable, including through restricting funds for malign activities,” she asserted during a Security Council briefing on Syria Chemical Weapons.

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Russia defends its stance

Russian ambassor to UN, Vassily Nebenzia, said that doctors who initially treated Navalny and “saved” his life did t find any chemical weapon substances in his analyses. Nebenzia told 15-member council that Russia has received evidence from Germany that would prompt Kremlin to open an investigation.

Earlier on September 9, US State Secretary Mike Pompeo said that was a “substantial chance” that senior Russian officials were behind suspected poisoning of Navalny. Pompeo told Ben Shapiro rio program that European Union and United States have me it clear to Russians that y expect Kremlin to hold people accountable behind poison attack.

“re is a substantial chance that this actually came from senior Russian officials, I think this is t good for Russian people,” said Pompeo as per transcript published by State Department.

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