Extract from Business Questions - Feb 4
Friday, 5 February 2021 09:04
Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con): Now that Putin the
poisoner has jailed Alexei Navalny for the “crime” of missing
probation appointments while in a coma, may we have a statement
about British policy towards Russia, so that the House can express
its view on such issues as that outrage and the increasing reliance
of our European friends and allies on Russian gas supplies through
such follies as the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project? Mr Rees-Mogg:
My right hon. Friend is so right to...Request free trial
(New Forest East)
(Con): Now that Putin the poisoner has jailed Alexei
Navalny for the “crime” of missing probation appointments while in
a coma, may we have a statement about British policy towards
Russia, so that the House can express its view on such issues as
that outrage and the increasing reliance of our European friends
and allies on Russian gas supplies through such follies as
the Nord Stream 2 pipeline
project?
Mr Rees-Mogg: My right hon. Friend is so right
to raise this important and disgraceful issue. The Government have
called for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr Navalny.
It is a completely perverse ruling. To say that somebody who has
been the victim of an attempted murder, with a poison that is
usually only available to state actors, has missed an appointment
and therefore must go to prison is peculiar and unjust. It shows
Russia is failing to meet the most basic commitments expected of
any responsible member of the international community. Russia
should fulfil its obligations under international law to
investigate this despicable crime and explain how a chemical weapon
came to be used on Russian soil.
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