Thread by @HannaNotte

Not making headlines, the @OPCW Executive Council is in session this week.

Despite zero progress in clarification on the #Navalny poisoning - with #Russia issuing denials & accusations - #Western states seem to have decided NOT to up the ante vis-a-vis Russia at this time..(1/5)

... unlike some have called for @StrickerNonpro: fdd.org/analysis/2022/…

Looking at statements issued at the Council this week, many - US, UK, Finland, Romania, Latvia, Germany, etc - recall #Navalny poisoning & bemoan lack of #Russian cooperation to date,...(2/5)

..but there seems to be no push to escalate the issue (ie. initiate procedures similar to those that led to #Syria's suspension from #OPCW last year).

I wonder why.

Desire not to further add to pile of problems with #Russia? Keep minimum engagement in multilateral fora? (3/5)

Especially at a time when concerns abound re: #chemical incidents, or even prospective chemical weapons use, in #Ukraine - as painstakingly documented by #OPCW in its "Compendium of correspondence shared by States Parties on Ukraine"?

opcw.org/sites/default/…

As I've argued, were procedures to be started that could lead to #Russia suspension @OPCW, it would likely outright leave (see UNHRC precedent in April)

It seems Western states -for whatever reason- are not prepared to push things to that point yet (5/5)
foreignpolicy.com/2021/04/19/org…