Merkel tells Russia to investigate suspected poisoning of Kremlin critic

[webfact]

Merkel tells Russia to investigate suspected poisoning of Kremlin critic

By Michael Nienaber and Joseph Nasr

 

FILE PHOTO: Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny takes part in a rally to mark the 5th anniversary of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov's murder and to protest against proposed amendments to the country's constitution, in Moscow, Russia February 29, 2020. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov -/File Photo

 

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday called on Russia to investigate the suspected poisoning of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny and hold the perpetrators accountable after doctors found indications of a toxic substance in his body.

 

A critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Navalny last week collapsed on a plane after drinking tea while on his way to campaign in Siberia. He was flown to Germany for treatment on Saturday.

 

The Kremlin has said it was unclear what caused Navalny to fall ill and that initial tests did not show he was poisoned, as his aides charged.

 

But German doctors treating Navalny at a Berlin hospital said on Monday that medical examinations indicated poisoning with some kind of cholinesterase inhibitor, although the specific substance is not yet known.

 

"In light of the prominent role played by Mr. Navalny in the political opposition in Russia, the authorities there are now urgently called upon to investigate this crime to the last detail - and do so in full transparency," Merkel said in a joint statement with Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.

 

Germany said on Monday it had placed Alexei Navalny under guard in hospital after determining that the long-time critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin had most likely been poisoned while campaigning in Siberia. Joe Davies reports.

 

"Those responsible must be identified and held accountable," Merkel added.

 

Berlin's Charite hospital said a team of doctors there had examined him in detail after his arrival. "Clinical findings indicate poisoning with a substance from the group of cholinesterase inhibitors," the hospital said in a statement.

 

"The specific substance involved remains unknown, and a further series of comprehensive testing has been initiated."

 

Russian health officials contradicted the German diagnosis, saying Navalny had tested negative for cholinesterase inhibitors when he was hospitalised in Omsk last week.

 

Navalny showed no signs of having been poisoned when he was admitted to the clinic and tests were carried out on him to check for a wide range of substances, including inhibitors, the health ministry in Omsk said in a statement.

 

"POISONING ATTACK"

Navalny has been a thorn in the Kremlin's side for more than a decade, exposing what he says is high-level graft and mobilising crowds of young protesters.

 

He has been repeatedly detained for organising public meetings and rallies and sued over his investigations into corruption. He was barred from running in a presidential election in 2018.

 

The German government said earlier that Navalny was being guarded in hospital due to concerns for his safety.

 

"Because one can say with near certainty that it was a poisoning attack, protection is necessary," Merkel's chief spokesman told journalists.

 

The incident could further strain Russia's fraught relations with its European and NATO neighbours, who have accused it of mounting attacks on dissidents in Europe in the past - accusations that Russia has dismissed.

 

In their statement, the German doctors said Navalny was being treated in intensive care and remained in a medically induced coma. While his condition was serious, it was not currently life-threatening, they said.

 

The outcome remained uncertain and long-term effects, especially to the nervous system, could not be ruled out, the statement added.

 

Cholinesterase inhibitors are a group of chemical compounds used in everything from chemical weapons to pesticides designed to kill bugs, and human medicines designed to alleviate symptoms of Alzheimer's and other types of dementia. Nerve gases and the so-called "Novichok" group of chemicals are also cholinesterase inhibitors.

 

The hospital statement said that Navalny was being treated with the antidote atropine.

 

That is the same drug used by British doctors to treat Sergei Skripal, a former Russian double agent, and his daughter Yulia, who were poisoned with a nerve agent in 2018 in Salisbury, England. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied involvement in that and other such incidents, calling accusations it was responsible anti-Russian provocations.

 

(Reporting by Michael Nienaber and Joseph Nasr; Additional reporting by Andreas Rinke in Berlin, Anton Zverev, Andrey Kuzmin and Tom Balmforth in Moscow; Additional reporting by Kate Kelland; Editing by Angus MacSwan, Jon Boyle, William Maclean and Alex Richardson)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-08-25

 

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[thaibeachlovers]

11 minutes ago, webfact said:

"Those responsible must be identified and held accountable," Merkel added.

Right, sure, of course they'll go and arrest the person(s) responsible, after all Merkel has spoken!

 

So, what is she going to do when they don't- stop buying Russian gas and let the populace freeze?

[Tug]

I’ll bet old Putin is getting a good chuckle out of that that beeing said I’m sure mrs Merkel is fuller aware of this

[jesimps]

What's the point of an investigation, we all know who's responsible - the evil goit with a track record of this sort of thing.

 

[Tropicalevo]

Russian doctors say that 'initial tests did not show he was poisoned'.

The Russians will say that the Germans did it.

[2 is 1]

Hey investigate ! Maybe you find that you are quilty! 

[Matzzon]

Darn, Now Mr. Putin has to open the secret room and take out two more fall guys.

[Pattaya Spotter]

Chancellor Merkel should abide by the UN Charter and refrain from interfearing in the internal affairs of others countries. And if she really feels strongly about this, she can decline to purchase Russian natural gas this coming winter.

[rcummings]

29 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Chancellor Merkel should abide by the UN Charter and refrain from interfearing in the internal affairs of others countries. And if she really feels strongly about this, she can decline to purchase Russian natural gas this coming winter.

Speech is interfering? That's a might low bar you're setting. You're not without company, though. The CCP would endorse your contention.

[RichardColeman]

I don't think the guy was poisoned. I think Putin just was testing the latest unproved Covid vaccine on him

[sawadee1947]

2 hours ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Chancellor Merkel should abide by the UN Charter and refrain from interfearing in the internal affairs of others countries. And if she really feels strongly about this, she can decline to purchase Russian natural gas this coming winter.

Well and buying gas instead from the Allmighty President? 

BS! ????

[Amdesign]

In my opinion, these 'poisoning' cases are used mainly in media campaigns. Why poisoning? Easy to make-up, difficult to check. Recovery takes long time and at the end very few will  search for the afthermath. Smart person will always ask 'cui prodest' - 'who's benefit?'; idiots will 'know the truth' without any proofs or investigation. And of course, such cases are used as reasons to impose new sanctions, escalate hysteria, increase political pressure, etc.

 

Navanly is facing multiple criminal charges in Russia for defamation. He is not an opposition leader, but a pro-Western political blogger who studied 'leadership program' in Yale. With his miserable rating, the guy presents no threat to Russian government, but is probably useful as 'sacral sacrifice'.

Edited August 25, 2020 by Amdesign

[rcummings]

49 minutes ago, Amdesign said:

I expected such question; but if You are aware about Ukrainian politics You would not have asked it.

FYI: General Militaty Procecutor Matios is NOT from Yanukiovich, he is from the team of Poroshenko, appointed in 2014 (after Yanukovich was forced to leave). And the statement is made in 2019, see the date of interview (in fact, this information is available in the link I posted, but You just don't intend to read?). Yes, RT would feature this interview, but CNN would not - are You surprised?

 

There are many other statements made by Ukrainian politicians, say by ex-minister of Interior Moskal' regarding that fake poisoning. They guy is not from Yanukovich team either.

what does it matter when he was interviewed? The report was manufactured under Yanukovych. Independent Austrian doctors found otherwise.

[Dap]

and THAT! defines Diplomacy.

[twix38]

Clearly more lies and deceit from putin and co. Putin is just a criminal thug who revels in poisoning and lying as a core pillar of foreign and internal government policy. Russian denial is now just a comedy show where we know the denial is a tissue of lies.

Edited August 25, 2020 by twix38

[spiekerjozef]

and Russia asked Merkel to investigate why all the artwork has disappeared in '45.

[Morch]

6 hours ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Chancellor Merkel should abide by the UN Charter and refrain from interfearing in the internal affairs of others countries. And if she really feels strongly about this, she can decline to purchase Russian natural gas this coming winter.

 

Coming from some posters, comments such as the one above are a laugh. To paraphrase a former USA president - "It's not interfering if the President does it". Got to love the hypocrisy.

[spiekerjozef]

13 minutes ago, rcummings said:

the most harmful known dioxin and one contained in Agent Orange

That's why the US is not saying anything....

[rcummings]

Just now, spiekerjozef said:

That's why the US is not saying anything....

You give Trump too much credit. More likely it's due to his infatuation with or fear of Putin. Or maybe both.

[Rimmer]

Off topic, post from unapproved source removed also replies. 

[Amdesign]

The new season of 'Putin the Poisoner' is on! The new TV series from the creators of 'Comrade Trump' and 'Chemical Assad'.

 

In this season, Putin is poisoning a very dangerous critic - pro-Western unemployed blogger Navalny. Despite all risks, the poisoning happens in crowded public place - in the airport and airplane, to maximize the effect and terrify the ordinary people. Definitely, the aim of Putin is to draw maximum Western media attention. But don't worry, no one will die - as usual, no one is poisoned to death. According to the screenplay, the victim should stay alive and speak in Western media about the terrible poisoner.

 

Anyone believes in such shows? To me, this looks like a low quality fiction for imbeciles.

 

 

[The Theory]

On 8/25/2020 at 4:37 AM, webfact said:

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday called on Russia to investigate the suspected poisoning

????????????????????????

[tso310]

Germans confirm he was poisoned with Novichok.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54002880

[Meat Pie 47]

On 8/25/2020 at 11:07 AM, Pattaya Spotter said:

Chancellor Merkel should abide by the UN Charter and refrain from interfearing in the internal affairs of others countries. And if she really feels strongly about this, she can decline to purchase Russian natural gas this coming winter.

Typical Trump supporter sticking up to Putin again