The Berlin hospital treating the seriously ill Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, says he appears to have been poisoned.
The Charite hospital released a statement saying « clinical evidence suggests an intoxication through a substance belonging to the group of cholinesterase inhibitors ». His condition was « serious but not life-threatening » the statement said. He fell ill on an internal flight in Russia on Thursday.
Video appeared to show Mr Navalny, a dogged critic of the Kremlin, writhing in agony on the flight from Tomsk in Siberia to Moscow. His supporters suspect he drank poisoned tea.
« The exact substance is not yet known, » the hospital said. « Widespread analysis has begun. The effect of the poison – i.e. the inhibition of cholinesterase in the organism – has been proven several times and in independent laboratories. »
Mr Navalny is being treated with an antidote – atropine. But the clinical outcome remained unclear, the statement said, and warned of possible effects on the nervous system.