Poisoning of Alexei Navalny

Navalny zelenka (cropped1)

Poisoning of Alexei Navalny occurred on August 20, 2020, when Alexei Navalny, a Russian opposition leader, lawyer, and anti-corruption activist, was suspected to have been poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent during a flight from Tomsk to Moscow, Russia. Navalny fell ill on the flight, which made an emergency landing in Omsk, where he was initially treated. He was later airlifted to Berlin, Germany, for further medical treatment, where the use of a Novichok nerve agent was confirmed.

Background

Alexei Navalny has been a prominent critic of the Russian government, particularly President Vladimir Putin. He has organized large-scale demonstrations and used his platform to expose corruption in the Russian political elite, making him a target for harassment, legal action, and physical attacks.

Events

On the morning of August 20, Navalny boarded a flight from Tomsk to Moscow. During the flight, he became severely ill and lost consciousness, prompting the plane to make an emergency landing in Omsk. He was admitted to a local hospital in a coma. After significant international pressure, Navalny was airlifted to the Charité hospital in Berlin on August 22.

Investigation and Response

German authorities, along with laboratories in Sweden and France, confirmed that Navalny was poisoned with a substance from the Novichok group, a series of nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The Russian government denied any involvement, dismissing the accusations as baseless.

The incident led to widespread international condemnation and calls for sanctions against Russia. The European Union and the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Russian officials and entities believed to be connected to the poisoning.

Aftermath

Navalny recovered from the poisoning and, in January 2021, returned to Russia, where he was immediately arrested at the airport. His arrest and subsequent imprisonment led to massive protests across Russia and further international criticism of the Russian government's treatment of political opponents.

See Also

• Novichok nerve agent
• Vladimir Putin
• Russian opposition
• Political repression in Russia