Russian opponent Alexei Navalny hospitalized with poisoning: We believe he was poisoned with something mixed with his tea

Sylvie Claire / August 20, 2020

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is in intensive care after apparently being poisoned, his spokesman said on Twitter Thursday.

Alexei Navalny was on a flight from Siberia to Moscow when the plane had to make an emergency landing due to the sudden deterioration of his health, according to his spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh. "Alexei has been poisoned, intoxicated," and "is now in intensive care," she tweeted.

We believe Alexei was poisoned with something mixed with his tea. He didn’t drink anything else this morning, ”she said. “Doctors said the poison was absorbed quickly through the hot drink

Tass State News Agency confirmed that Alexei Navalny was admitted to the intensive care unit of the toxicology department in the emergency department of Omsk hospital in Siberia.

The main opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the 44-year-old lawyer, whose anti-corruption posts are widely shared on social media, has suffered physical attacks in the past. In particular, he was sprayed in the eyes with a disinfectant when leaving his office in 2017.

Mr. Navalny, his supporters and their families are regularly the subject of arrests, searches and police pressure throughout Russia.