EU WANTS HALT TO PIPELINE AFTER NAVALNY ARREST

BRUSSELS European Union lawmakers passed a resolution on Thursday calling for the bloc to stop the completion of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to take Russian natural gas to Europe, in response to the arrest of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

Navalny, a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was detained at the weekend and later jailed for alleged parole violations after flying back to Russia after being poisoned by a military grade nerve agent.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has continued to back the pipeline between Germany and Russia, said Thursday her view of the project had not changed.

Lawmakers in the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly to block the pipeline construction, with 581 votes in favour, 50 against and 44 abstentions.