German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier has cautioned against linking Moscow's treatment of jailed Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny to the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. In remarks published on February 7 by the Bild am Sonntag newspaper, Altmaier voiced support for continuing construction of the nearly finished pipeline.
"Business relationships and business projects that have existed for decades are one thing and serious human rights violations and our reactions to them are another," Altmaier said. Navalny was sentenced on February 2 to nearly 3 years in prison after a Moscow court ruled he had violated the terms of his parole, a charge he rejected.
