German government: Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a substance from the Novichok group

The German government reported that politician Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a substance from the Novichok group.

“At the request of the Charité clinic, a special laboratory of the Bundeswehr conducted a toxicological test based on the analyzes of Alexei Navalny. Unambiguous evidence was provided of the presence of a chemical nerve agent of the Novichok group. Alexey Navalny was flown from Russia to Berlin for treatment on August 22 with symptoms of poisoning,” the statement said.

18:30 The Charité clinic issued a press release about Navalny’s condition. Navalny remains in serious condition, in intensive care and on a ventilator. His cholinesterase activity is gradually restored, and the symptoms of poisoning begin to subside.

“The recovery is likely to be lengthy. It is too early to assess the long-term consequences that may arise from this severe poisoning,” the publication notes.

On August 24, the German Charité clinic published a statement that Navalny was diagnosed with intoxication with a substance from the group of cholinesterase inhibitors.

September 7, 16:20 Alexei Navalny was taken out of an induced coma, TASS reports .

“The health condition of Alexei Navalny, who has been at the Charite in Berlin since August 22, has improved. The artificial coma, which was supported by medications, could be completed,” TASS quotes a message from the Charite clinic, where Navalny is staying.

The politician is gradually disconnected from the ventilator; he responds to speech. Doctors do not rule out long-term consequences for Navalny's health.

• Navalny became ill on the morning of August 20 on a plane flying from Tomsk to Moscow. He was dropped off in Omsk and taken to a local emergency hospital. Relatives and friends are sure that this is poisoning, but the hospital doctors said that there are no signs of poisoning. He has been in a coma since August 20. His wife Yulia was not immediately allowed in to see him. According to Yarmysh and Navalny’s associates, there were plainclothes operatives on the hospital grounds.
• Navalny’s sending to the Berlin Charité clinic was preceded by a long process of negotiations with the participation of German resuscitation doctors who specially arrived in Omsk on August 21. At first, doctors at the Omsk hospital, contrary to the demands of his relatives, refused to let Navalny go to Germany, explaining that they had all the conditions necessary for his treatment.