Alexei Navalny has confirmed poisoned by the neurotoxin Russian Novichok. What is happening now?

Alexei Navalny has confirmed poisoned by the neurotoxin Russian Novichok. What is happening now?

The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, has confirmed what many had suspected September 2 – that the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, currently in a coma in a hospital Berlineren, was in the Soviet Union and Russia developed was poisoned by a nerve agent. Merkel said through a special military laboratory tests had evidence showed “clearly” that Navalny, the multiple allegations of corruption published by officials, including United Russia party of President Vladimir Putin, the victims of nerve agent known as it was “Novichok” . The German leader Navalny called a “victim” of a crime that was intended to “silence”. “It turns out a lot of difficult questions that only the Russian government to answer, and must answer,” he said. Few people knew what Novichok was before 2018, when U.K. Officials discovered the military-grade nerve in the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal, and his daughter Julia in the city of Salisbury, England. The twilight Sturgess resident was subsequently subjected to the same nerve agents and died in the hospital. UK. accused two workers of the Russian military intelligence service (G.R.U.) denied the attack, accusations that Russia. Navalny, 44, broke on August 20 on a flight from Moscow to the Siberian city of Tomsk. His spokesman said the suspect was poisoned by a cup of black tea drink in a cafe airport earlier that day. The hospital where he initially said in Omsk is treated on August 21, they found traces of poisoning and Navalny diagnosed with a metabolic disease that can be caused by low blood sugar. After intensive lobbying by his family and supporters, he gave permission for the Kremlin Navalny moved to Berlin on August 22, where he had been artificial coma. addressed a letter to the Russian President Administration on August 21, Julia Navalnaya wrote that their “need help qualified doctor” man. “Further improve” was Navalny, the Charité Navalny treatment said on September 3, but warned doctors warned that “the recovery is likely to be long. It ‘still too early to measure the long-term effects that may arise in relation to these serious poisoning “But beyond the health of the militant, who for his country and the world can be just as boring. And ‘the discovery Novichok prove that Putin has poisoned? Navalny supporters say that the poison nerve carries the hallmark of the involvement of the Kremlin. “In 2020 Novichok to poison Navalny The choice is basically the same as an autograph leave the crime scene,” Leonid Volkov, chief of staff Navalny, tweeted, attaching a photo of Putin’s signature. Ivan Zhdanov, an aide to Navalny, tweeted: “Only a government can do.” Ben Noble, professor of Russian politics at University College London, says that the use of a Novichok proposes three scenarios: either Putin ordered security service of Russia or to take military intelligence Navalny; or Putin gave his tacit approval for another actor initiative Navalny poisons; or the State was not involved and control Putin is no longer how to chemical weapons used in his country. Some experts say it is, it is not inconceivable that a private citizen get the nerve gas. “If you are in the small circle of Putin if you are rich and powerful, then you can probably get access to Novichok” says Mark Galeotti, a Russia expert at the Royal United Services Institute. “This is not a deep-regulated country that people sometimes take over,” he says. Tatiana Stanovaya, founder and CEO of determined political analysis R.Politik doubted Putin the job, even if the intelligence had been done involved. “Do not see Putin Navalny as a serious threat, but there are many players around him who see him as an enemy and would be willing to regime to protect him,” he says. The president can not know what happened once he adds. How you are pressing international leader in the Kremlin? Merkel an investigation by E.U. promised and NATO. The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the poisoning as “outrageous.” “The Russian government must now explain what happens Mr. Navalny – we will work with international partners to ensure that justice is done,” he tweeted. The Council of the US National Security (NSC) said the suspected poisoning was “totally reprehensible” and that “work with allies and the international community to move to Russia to account where the evidence leads, and the means for their left Limit “activities in a series of tweets on 2 September, but the US president Donald Trump has remained silent on the issue. As on August 20 asked Navalny hospitalization, Trump said, “Not that we have not yet seen, we are looking at it, and Mike [Pompeo] ‘s me to go early to tell.” The EU urged Russia investigation ‘transparent’ lead poisoning, and called Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the NATO defense alliance, and for a survey a tweet. NATO members will discuss the poisoning at a special meeting today. Galeotti warns that Russian investigation is not “clear or have the necessary international participation” being, citing its limited investigation in 2015 murder of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov as an example. There are probably new sanctions against Russia or Putin be? It’s possible. Some analysts say they expect Western governments to expel Russian diplomats and bring in sanctions. The European Union. September 3 said that sanctions would only be possible if it was determined that it was responsible for Navalny poisoned. If Skripal British patent convinced distribute more than 20 countries for a total of more than 150 Russian diplomats in the largest diplomatic collective punishment after the Second World War. “It ‘was a triumph of British diplomacy, and we want Russia really surprised,” said Galeotti. “He put a significant change in their intelligence and ‘was embarrassing for a country that is trying to present itself as a great power,” he added. However, he says Stanovaya doubt be a strong push back because diplomatic Navalny was attacked on Russian soil, while Westminster took the poisoning of Skripals in Salisbury as a national security attack U.K. In March 2018, the then Prime Minister Theresa, “said that this was not only a crime against Sergei Skripal and Julia. It ‘was an arbitrary and reckless act against the United Kingdom.” In Germany, some politicians prefer stricter measures of diplomatic expulsions. Norbert Röttgen, parliamentary leader of Merkel’s party and a potential successor to the chancellor, said: “diplomatic rituals are no longer sufficient”, in an interview with German radio on September 2, pressure is now on the German political spectrum to the Registrar Monday North punitive action on the flow 2 to take a pipeline 760 miles, natural gas is intended to be borne directly from Russia to Germany. Some E.U. Countries say that increasing Europe’s dependence on Russian gas, and Trump, who owns the pipeline a security threat for Europe, the penalties introduced last year, the companies involved in some. “We are the only language we react Putin must understand – sales of gas,” said Röttgen. But it is unclear whether Merkel will present. Asked last week if Germany due to the attack of the project shot against Navalny, he said the two issues were separate. “It is not appropriate to establish a connection between the problem Navalny and which is driven commercially a project,” he said. How does Russia? Russia does not provide Moscow has rejected calls for Merkel to Navalny and accused Germany with proof of his condition. “The Russian side has received on this subject is not a single document,” the spokesman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said in an interview with Russia on September 3, 24, a news channel supported by the government. “There is no answer,” he said. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman said on September 2 that “no toxic substances” were found in Navalny, before going to Germany and said that there was no reason for Russia to accuse to poison him. “I would say carefully accused of the Russian state. After all, there are no fees and there is no reason to accuse the Russian state,” he said. For Putin, experts say, these allegations geopolitical attack. “It’s not about Navalny, it is to destroy Russia,” says Stanovaya. “Russia is pushing for Germany all the evidence. But it will never be enough,” she says. As Navalny influence the opposition poisoning? It is a “major blow” against the opposition says Stanovaya – and one that comes after Putin has already spent years threatening to arrest and imprison critical of the Kremlin, laws which lay certain types of criticism to the government as a security threat national and organizations of civil society forces to close. In July Navalny was forced to impose its anti-corruption Foundation because of heavy fines to the court to close its investigation. But the obvious attempt to life Navalny could also mobilize anti-Putin and ready discontent and anger feelings. “It ‘s possible that people who are over their political views are not sure, outraged to support a form of anti-Putin and will be shot,” he adds. Sergei Shnurov, a personality of public life and a member of the party of the growth of the center-right, said that before the possible poisoning of Navalny was “indifferent” to him, and now he is “for him,” in a poem about the his writings social media. He also suggested he send money to the leader of the anti-corruption activists. Putin disassociate the poisoning of any involvement in Navalny will continue, says Noble. denied Given the recent mass protests in the Russian city of Khabarovsk on the charges against the former governor, “the prospect of another reason for the Russians to protest in the streets is deeply worrying for Putin,” says Noble.
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