BERLIN: Germany yesterday expressed its “concern” to the number two envoy of the Russian embassy in Berlin over fresh raids against pro-democracy NGOs as part of what activists have called a crackdown.
A foreign ministry source said the Russian diplomat Oleg Krasnitzki, second in rank behind the ambassador to Berlin, had been “invited” for a conversation at the request of Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.
“The concern of the German government in light of the concerted action against several non-governmental organisations including political foundations was conveyed to him,” the
source said.
In diplomatic terms, the invitation marked a clear form of protest but stopped short of a formal summons to the ministry.
The move came as the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), a political think-tank with close ties to Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union, said its St Petersburg offices were the target of a second search after raids last week. It said security forces confiscated computers, citing checks for proper software licensing.
“This morning’s intrusion is alarming and in no way acceptable,” KAS president Hans-Gert Poettering, a former speaker of the European Parliament, said in a statement.
“This interference in our work can lead to a strain in our (diplomatic) relations with Russia.”
In Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the raids, along with other measures, pointed to a trend in Russia that was “deeply troubling”.
Westerwelle had condemned the initial raids Friday, saying he was “very concerned” by developments. AFP
