NBC/Reuters: Merkel and Putin clash over jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny on her last trip to Russia
"I have demanded once again from the president to release Navalny and I have made it clear that we will remain on the case," Merkel said.
MOSCOW — German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday used her final official visit to Russia to tell President Vladimir Putin to free Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, but the Kremlin leader rebuffed her, saying the jailing was unrelated to politics.
The talks, as Merkel prepares to step down following elections next month, coincided with the first anniversary of Navalny's poisoning, an incident that strained Russia-Germany ties.
Navalny was flown to Germany last year after being poisoned with what the West concluded was a military nerve agent.
Moscow rejects that and alleges a Western smear campaign. Navalny was jailed when he flew back to Russia.
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Update #1: Merkel urges Putin to free Kremlin critic Navalny on farewell Russia visit -- France 24 Update #2: Merkel-Putin Era Ends: Dogs, Flowers and Tart Ripostes -- Moscow Times/AFP
WNU Editor: Russian President Putin has gained a lot of weight. On a more important note. Who was calling German Chancellor Angela Merkel (see video below)?
