McCaul requests U.S. investigation into Russian opposition leader’s poisoning

The Trump administration must investigate whether Russia used chemical weapons in the Aug. 20 poisoning of Russian political activist Alexey Navalny, and, if needed, impose additional sanctions, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) wrote in a Sept. 8 letter sent to the president.

“We formally request that the executive branch investigate whether Russia has used chemical weapons in violation of international law or has used lethal chemical weapons against its own nationals,” wrote Rep. McCaul, ranking member of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, and U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), the committee’s chairman.

Under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991, the request triggers an investigation into Russia’s alleged violation of international law and to enact additional sanctions if it’s determined that chemical weapons were used against Navalny, according to the lawmakers’ letter.

“The poisoning of Mr. Navalny is particularly disturbing given that a Novichok agent was also used in a March 2018 attack on former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, England,” wrote Rep. McCaul and his colleague.

The congressmen also urged Trump to continue working with U.S. allies and partners to demand Russia fully cooperate with an international investigation into Navalny’s poisoning. “Those responsible for this despicable attack must be held accountable, and Russian President Vladimir Putin must know that he and his cronies will not be allowed to violate international law with impunity,” they wrote.