NATO reacts to poisoning of Russian opposition leader - serious violation of international law

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was a "serious violation of international law and requires an international response," the NATO alliance announced on Friday.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he did not want to speculate on what kind of action the response would provoke.

He also called for a "full disclosure" of the alleged Russian "Novichok" program, saying: "Russia has serious questions it must answer."

"The use of such a weapon is appalling," Stoltenberg said, adding "those responsible for the attack must be brought to justice," Euronews reported.

NATO's reaction came as MEPs called for the bloc to impose sanctions over the poisoning and push for an international investigation.

In a letter addressed to the EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell and the presidency of the Council of Europe, currently held by Germany, more than 100 members of the European Parliament call on the EU to "work towards implementing an international investigation".

"We remain extremely skeptical that the Russian authorities are capable and willing to investigate the real background of this crime. We all look back at a long history of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's opponents and independent journalists being attacked and/or killed and the Russian authorities have failed to bring the real perpetrators to justice," they added.

German authorities announced earlier this week that there was "undeniable evidence" that Navalny had been attacked with the nerve agent "Novichok" and that they would work with the EU and other international partners on an "appropriate joint response".

MEPs said the Navalny case confirmed "the need for the EU to quickly establish an EU human rights violations sanctions mechanism, so that we can hold accountable the people behind the attacks on opposition figures and journalists".

"We cannot stand by and watch while the opposition in Russia is systematically subjected to poison attacks," they continued.

Navalny felt unwell during a flight from Siberia to Moscow on August 20, and his staff immediately suspected foul play. Doctors in Omsk, the Siberian city where he was initially treated before being transferred to Berlin'a Charité hospital, however, said Navalny was suffering from "chronic pancreatitis" which caused glycemic imbalance.

He remains in intensive care.