Lavrov: Moscow Will Request Full Clarity on EU's Borrell 'Fascist Russia' Remarks

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Moscow will request full clarity regarding the recent remark by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday.

"We requested from Borrell's office the transcript of the speech in Spanish. We have not received it. We will seek complete clarity, and if we do not receive this transcript in Spanish today, then we will draw the appropriate conclusions," Lavrov said at a briefing.

If Borrell's office confirms that he allowed himself to make statements about "fascist Russia," then Moscow will have to reconsider ways of dealing with the EU foreign policy chief and the EU representative in the country, the Russian foreign minister added.

"Mr. Borrell, as I have said, is a person who appoints EU representatives abroad. In particular, just a week ago, he appointed a new head of the EU delegation in Russia. If Mr. Borrell so instinctively takes the fight, as he put it, with the 'fascist regime' for granted, then I would very much like to know what instructions, what directives he has issued to his representative in Moscow and what line this representative will pursue," Lavrov said.

Speaking at the European Parliament inter-parliamentary conference in Prague on Monday, Borrell decided to switch to his native Spanish to deliver a clearer response while answering lawmakers' question about the bloc's actions against Russia.

An Estonian lawmaker asked a question, using the phrase "fascist Russia." Borrell, in his answer, quoted the question, mentioning the same expression. The interpreter, however, failed to emphasize that it was a quote, and presented it as Borrell's statement.