Pompeo, G7 Sanctimoniously Condemn ‘Confirmed’ Navalny Poisoning

Sept. 9, 2020 (EIRNS)—Secretary of State Mike “the Rapture” Pompeo joined with other foreign ministers of the G7 group, in issuing a joint statement condemning “in the strongest possible terms the confirmed poisoning” of Russian Alexey Navalny. They sanctimoniously intone that

“this attack against opposition leader Navalny is another grave blow against democracy and political plurality in Russia. It constitutes a serious threat to those men and women engaged in defending the political and civil freedoms that Russia herself has committed to guarantee. We call on Russia to fulfill its commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and to guarantee these rights, including the right to freedom of expression, to its citizens.”

Of course, as the Washington Examiner points out today, this statement comes at a time when President Donald Trump has refused to definitively blame Moscow for the alleged poisoning, and its clear intention is to heighten tensions between Russia and the U.S. precisely at a moment when cooperation and dialogue are urgently required to deal with the world strategic crisis. After blathering that the use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere, “is unacceptable and contravenes the international norms prohibiting the use of such weapons,” the statement warns that “we will continue to monitor closely how Russia responds to international calls for an explanation of the hideous poisoning of Mr. Navalny.” The statement is signed by Pompeo, plus foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K. and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union.