Russian officials will investigate Navalny’s poisoning — for suspected foreign political interference

At first glance, it would seem that the Russian authorities have acquiesced to demands from world leaders and activists across the country that state officials investigate the apparent assassination attempt against opposition politician Alexey Navalny.

On Tuesday, August 25, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin announced that the Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption will review the circumstances surrounding Navalny’s poisoning. Unfortunately, for those who want the matter handled as a criminal assault, the Russian government is examining the incident for evidence of foreign political interference.

The committee is being instructed to “analyze what happened in order to determine if this was an attempt by foreign states to damage the health of a Russian citizen with the purpose of creating tensions inside Russia and formulating yet more allegations against our country,” Volodin explained. The Duma’s speaker also mused that statements by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU Foreign Minister Josep Borrell suggest the involvement of foreign states in Navalny’s illness. (Merkel and Borrell have both demanded an investigation into Navalny’s poisoning, and Borrell has condemned the “alleged attempt” on the Russian politician’s life.)