Berlin hospital authorities confirmed that Alexei Navalny was indeed poisoned and that it is likely that he was poisoned with a Soviet-era nerve agent called “Novichok”. It is infamous for having been the cause of death of the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter who were then in Britain, back in the day.
Alexei Navalny is one of the biggest critics of the Kremlin, and more particularly, Russian President Vladimir Putin. He mysteriously collapsed on a flight from Siberia to Moscow on August 20 and was flown to Berlin last week for treatment, following a plea by his wife to the Russian Government seeking the same. While his condition remains critical, this new confirmation about the cause of his collapse has confirmed the already present suspicions over the alleged poisoning of Navalny. The cholinesterase inhibitor was identified in his blood by the doctors in Berlin.
Steffen Seibert the spokesperson to German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday said that after testing by a military laboratory, it was ascertained that “a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok group” was used on Navalny. During the statement, Seibert added that they intended to inform the European Union and NATO about the results of Navalny’s test. Additionally, Seibert pledged to consult with Russia to reach an “appropriate joint response”.
Meanwhile, Russia has responded to these accusations calling them ’empty noise’ and baseless allegations. Russian doctors who had treated Navalny in Siberia went on to justify their previous claim that poisoning was ruled out as no trace of poisonous substances was found in his body.