Kremlin Not Involved in Patient Treatment, We Are Not Doctors – Peskov on Navalny's Hospitalization

Russian President Vladimir Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov has stated that the Kremlin has not received an official request from Alexei Navalny's representatives regarding his transfer to Germany. However, he acknowledged awareness of reports on social media about the matter.

Peskov believed that "excess bureaucracy is unnecessary" in such cases, according to Meduza.io. "As far as we know, our doctors have invited the doctors who arrived from Germany by plane to visit the hospital, participate in a consultative meeting, obtain all information regarding treatment methods, existing analyses, and so on. I do not know if the Germans went or not, but our doctors are in contact," Peskov said. He added that according to the treating physician, the specific reason for Navalny's hospitalization is still unknown, making his transfer not currently feasible.

"This could pose a risk to his health," Peskov stated.

When asked whether authorities had intervened to obstruct Navalny's transfer to Germany, Peskov responded, "That is the decision of the treating physician. This is very important. We are talking about a transfer that could threaten the patient's life." He emphasized that the presidential administration does not interfere in such matters. "We are not doctors," he added.

As previously reported, Alexander Murakhovsky, the chief physician of the Omsk Emergency Hospital No. 1, informed reporters today that doctors have five working diagnoses regarding Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny's health condition. According to him, a definitive diagnosis will require another two days. Murakhovsky also noted that this morning, doctors had conducted a consultative meeting with the participation of the best specialists. The doctors find that his condition does not permit transferring him to Germany.

Earlier, Alexei Navalny's wife, Yulia, reported that the transport police had identified the substance that poisoned her husband. The name of the substance found in Navalny's body has not been disclosed, as reported by the opposition figure's press secretary Kira Yarmish. The director of the Anti-Corruption Foundation, Ivan Zhdanov, also stated that the transport police had said it is "a matter of investigative secrecy."

Navalny's wife mentioned that she does not trust the Omsk Emergency Hospital No. 1, where her husband is being treated. She believes that the doctors are keeping the politician in the clinic and not allowing him to be transferred to Europe, "so that the chemical substance in Alexei's body disappears."

Recall that Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny's condition worsened yesterday while returning from Tomsk to Moscow. The plane made an emergency landing in Omsk, and he was transported to the hospital by ambulance under suspicion of poisoning. His press secretary Kira Yarmish announced this on Twitter. Later, she reported that Navalny is in a coma and his condition is serious. Multiple media outlets reported that preliminary data suggests suspicions that Navalny was poisoned with sodium oxybate. It was also reported that Navalny had drunk black tea at a cafe in Tomsk airport, where an internal investigation is underway.