Alexei Navalny Fully Conscious, Trying to Recall Events Leading to His Poisoning

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny has been poisoned with a new type of 'Novichok,' deemed more dangerous than previously known variants. According to the German publication Die Zeit, which cites undisclosed sources, Navalny was expected to die on the plane. He survived only due to a 'chain of happy coincidences,' including the pilot's immediate decision to make an emergency landing and the actions of medical personnel who promptly administered atropine to him.

Die Zeit speculates that only Russian special services could have poisoned Navalny, as ordinary criminals would not be able to synthesize such a type of poison. Furthermore, it is unlikely that foreign special services could have carried out such a serious operation in Russia, given that Navalny was under constant surveillance.

The publication concludes that the Kreml likely issued the order for Navalny's poisoning. According to the article, German doctors found traces of the poison on the mouth of Navalny's water bottle and on his hands. Die Zeit reports that Navalny may have been poisoned by one of the agents following him, either by applying the poison to the cup from which he drank tea or by contaminating the prepared tea itself.

Russia claims that tests conducted in Omsk showed no traces of poison in Navalny's system. However, sources from Meduza stated that Navalny exhibited clear signs of poisoning while in Omsk, leading doctors to administer atropine to him in the ambulance.

Navalny's health sharply deteriorated on August 20 while on a flight from Tomsk to Moscow. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Omsk, where Navalny began receiving treatment. Days later, he was transferred to Berlin, where German doctors removed him from an induced coma after several days.

Reputable international outlets such as The Insider, Bellingcat, and Spiegel report that Alexei Navalny is fully conscious, speaking, and trying to recall events leading up to his poisoning. Security around him at the Charité hospital has been enhanced, as there remains a possibility of a second attack against Navalny.

It is noteworthy that 'Novichok,' a nerve agent, was used to poison Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the UK in March 2018.