Alexei Navalny released from German hospital after Novichok poisoning

23 September 2020, 18:29 | Updated: 23 September 2020, 18:36

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been released from a German hospital after being treated for poisoning
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been released from a German hospital after being treated for poisoning. Picture: PA Images
Ewan Quayle

By Ewan Quayle

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been released from a German hospital after being poisoned with Novichok.

Mr Navalny spent 32 days in treatment in Berlin's Charite hospital, most of which were in intensive care, before doctors deemed his "condition had improved sufficiently for him to be discharged" from their care.

The hospital said that based on Mr Navalny's progress, treating physicians believe that "complete recovery is possible" but added that it "remains too early to gauge the potential long-term effects of his severe poisoning".

Mr Navalny, the most visible opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was flown to Germany two days after falling ill on August 20 on a domestic flight in Russia.

Read more: Alexei Navalny pictured walking down stairs as he recovers from Novichok poisoning

Read more: Specialist laboratories confirm Alexei Navalny was poisoned with Novichok

German chemical weapons experts have determined the 44-year-old was poisoned with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok - findings corroborated by labs in France and Sweden.

During his convalescence, Mr Navalny has in recent days been posting regular photos from the hospital on Instagram, first showing him sitting up in his bed surrounded by his family, then up and about in the building.

In a wry post on Tuesday night accompanied by a close-up photo, he scoffed at reported comments by Mr Putin suggesting he might have intentionally taken poison himself.

"Good theory, I believe it deserves the most careful attention," Mr Navalny wrote in Russian.

"Cooked Novichok in the kitchen. Took a sip from a flask on the plane. Fell into a coma."

He sarcastically said that then the "ultimate aim of my cunning plan" was to die in Siberia, where the cause of death would be "lived long enough".

"But Putin outmanoeuvred me. You can't fool him," Mr Navalny wrote.

"As a result, I lay in a coma for 18 days like a fool, but didn't get my way. The provocation failed!"

Merkel: Russian poisoning of Navalny is attempted murder

The nerve agent used in the attack was the same class of Soviet-era agent that Britain said was used on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England, in 2018, and Chancellor Angela Merkel and other world leaders have called for Russia to fully investigate.

Mr Navalny was kept in an induced coma for more than two weeks as he was treated with an antidote.

Members of his team accused the Kremlin of involvement in the poisoning, claims that Russian officials have vehemently denied.

Russia has bristled at the demands for an investigation, saying it needs Germany to share medical data or compare notes with the Russian doctors who said they found no trace of poison in his system while he was at a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk.

Germany has noted that Mr Navalny was in Russian treatment for 48 hours, and that Russia has its own data.

Read more: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny out of induced coma

Read more: Russian Ambassador summoned to Foreign Office over Alexei Navalny poisoning

It has also enlisted the Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for technical assistance in the case.

Last week, the international agency said its experts had "independently collected biomedical samples from Mr Navalny for analysis by OPCW designated laboratories".

Results have not yet been announced.

The Charite statement was released in consultation with Mr Navalny and his wife, and the hospital would not comment further on whether he would continue to receive outpatient care there.

Mr Navalny's team has said he eventually plans to return to Russia, but had no immediate statement after his release from the hospital.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Cruise AV, General Motor’s autonomous electric Bolt EV

GM to retreat from robotaxis and stop funding autonomous vehicle unit

Michael Jeffries

Ex-Abercrombie boss asks court to determine his competency to face sex charges

Paul Rudd in Dublin

Paul Rudd surprises locals in Dublin pub as he enjoys singalong with band - but 'forgets to settle bill'

A massive explosion ripped through a terrace house in Ilford

Two rushed to hospital after house explosion in Ilford - with 60 firefighters called out to tackle blaze

French rugby players Oscar Jegou, right, and Hugo Auradou, centre

French rugby players cleared of sexual assault in Argentina

Luigi Mangione is taken into court

Man suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare chief appears in court in Pennsylvania

Luigi Mangione yelled at crowds outside court before his hearing.

Healthcare CEO suspect launches angry outburst outside court as he contests extradition to New York

Alex Jones

Court asked to approve The Onion’s winning bid for Alex Jones’ Infowars

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly 'split' just weeks after announcing pregnancy

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a hearing in his trial on corruption charges

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu gives evidence in court as he slams 'absurd' corruption allegations

Junior Doctors In England Hold 72-hour Walkout Over Pay

Government departments recommended a pay rise of 2.8% - but union bosses brand it 'barely above the cost of living'

Donald Trump

Trump’s hush money case could be halted but conviction upheld, say prosecutors

Kenneth Chesebro in court

Further charges against Trump lawyers and aide over 2020 fake electors

Massive cuts to the Met were announced today.

With a ‘blackhole’ in the Met Police budget, money isn't the only challenge to effective Met Policing

Exclusive
Suella Braverman speaks to LBC's Andrew Marr

Suella Braverman brands UK-Germany small boats deal 'useless' as she fails to say what she doesn't like about Reform UK

Exclusive
Jamal Khashoggi’s widow has called for an apology and compensation

Jamal Khashoggi’s widow calls for apology and compensation amid 'unfinished business' over his death