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Alexei Navalny, a strong opposer to the Russian government, is currently receiving treatment at Charite hospital in Berlin, Germany. German health officials have confirmed that Navalny ingested Novichok, a Soviet-era nerve agent.
Novichok is the same nerve agent used to poison former KGB spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in 2018. Since the Russian opposition figure fell ill in Siberia, German officials believe the poisoning was not accidental.
Furthermore, German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, believes the poisoning was an attempted murder. The Russian government developed Novichok in a top-secret laboratory in Moscow during the last years of the Cold war. The only people with access to the nerve agent are Russian officials.
However, when Navalny received treatment in Siberia, Russian doctors found no trace of poison. On the other hand, his spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, said Navalny fell ill after drinking a cup of tea while aboard a flight headed to Moscow from Tomsk, Siberia.
Navalny’s Condition And The European Union
Additionally, Navalny remains in a medically induced coma. He is in stable condition, but doctors say it is still too early to determine what his condition will be like once he comes out of the coma. Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has yet to comment.
However, his press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, commented on his behalf. Peskov says, German officials do not have any reason to launch an investigation. Despite this, Germany plans to notify NATO and the European Union about the situation. German officials agree to cooperate with Russian officials, but they do not plan on dropping the investigation at the moment.
Written by Reginae Echols
Edited by Cathy Milne-Ware
Sources:
NPR: Alexei Navalny Was Poisoned With Novichok Nerve Agent ‘To Silence Him,’ Merkel Says
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