themoscowtimes--2020-08-19--EU Rejects Belarus Vote Result as Lukashenko Orders Clampdown

Western leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and Merkel this week called on Lukashenko 's close ally Russia to foster talks between authorities and the opposition .
`` Lukashenko has lost all legitimacy in the eyes of our nation and the world , '' she said in the video appeal .
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , a 37-year-old political novice who fled to neighbouring Lithuania after claiming victory in the vote , earlier on Wednesday urged EU leaders not to recognise the `` fraudulent '' ballot .
German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters that the EU rejects the results of the vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fair . ''
Protesters have flooded the streets of Belarusian cities in the wake of the Aug. 9 election , waving the red-and-white flags of the opposition and calling on Lukashenko to step down after he claimed a sixth term with some 80 % of the ballot .
Following an emergency video conference on the elections , European Council chief Charles Michel said the EU would soon levy sanctions against a `` substantial number '' of people responsible for vote rigging and the violent suppression of protests in the ex-Soviet country .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Belarus 's disputed presidential election as strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko ordered his security forces to prevent any further unrest .
The Kremlin on Wednesday described foreign interference in Belarus as `` unacceptable '' and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned what he said were attempts from abroad to take advantage of unrest in Belarus .
`` No one is making a secret of the fact that this is about geopolitics , the fight for the post-Soviet space , '' he said in a televised interview .
Yet Minsk 's ties with Moscow have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian President Vladimir Putin 's efforts to integrate the two countries .
Ahead of the vote , he accused the Kremlin of dispatching mercenaries to Minsk to stir unrest with the opposition .
Europe 's longest-serving leader , Lukashenko has resisted calls to resign or hold new elections and has accused the opposition of attempts to `` seize power . ''
During a meeting of his security council on Wednesday , Lukashenko ordered his government to prevent further unrest and shore up protections along the ex-Soviet country 's border .
`` There should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People are tired ; people demand peace and quiet , '' Lukashenko told officials .
He said the protective measures on the border were necessary to stop `` militants , weapons , ammunition and money from other countries from entering Belarus to finance the riots . ''
Tikhanovskaya , a trained English teacher who said she never planned to enter politics , contested the vote after her husband was jailed and barred from running against Lukashenko .
She has vowed to hold new elections and a Coordination Council which her allies created to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday .
In her video to European leaders , Tikhanovskaya said the council would lead the process of a `` peaceful transition of power via dialogue '' and call for `` new fair and democratic presidential elections with international supervision . ''
Nobel Prize-winning author and outspoken Lukashenko critic Svetlana Alexievich has been named a member of the group .
Lukashenko 's claim to victory sparked the largest demonstrations in Belarus since it gained independence with the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union .
More than 100,000 demonstrators flooded the streets of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fever pitch .
A police crackdown on peaceful protesters in the days after the vote saw nearly 7,000 demonstrators detained and sparked allegations of abuse and torture at the hands of security services .
The health ministry on Wednesday confirmed the death of a 43-year-old man after his family said he was shot while taking part in a protest last week .
Two other people are confirmed to have died in post-election unrest .
Lukashenko has handed out awards to some 300 members of his security services for `` impeccable service '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police violence .
Traditionally loyal factory workers at state-run enterprises answered the opposition 's calls to strike in an unprecedented display of anger towards the Belarusian leader .
But the authorities appear to be clamping down on employees at state factories walking off the job , with police intervening in a demonstration outside the Minsk Tractor Works on Wednesday morning and arresting protesters .
Activists on social media have said the authorities are exerting enormous pressure on employees at state-run enterprises to refuse to strike , leading to a sharp drop in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police on Wednesday also blocked the entrance to the National Academy Theatre in Minsk after staff resigned en masse to protest the forced removal of director and former culture minister Pavel Latushko , who publicly called for new elections .

Western leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and Merkel this week called on Lukashenko's close ally Russia to foster talks between authorities and the opposition.
"Lukashenko has lost all legitimacy in the eyes of our nation and the world," she said in the video appeal.
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, a 37-year-old political novice who fled to neighbouring Lithuania after claiming victory in the vote, earlier on Wednesday urged EU leaders not to recognise the "fraudulent" ballot.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters that the EU rejects the results of the vote, which was "neither free nor fair."
Protesters have flooded the streets of Belarusian cities in the wake of the Aug. 9 election, waving the red-and-white flags of the opposition and calling on Lukashenko to step down after he claimed a sixth term with some 80% of the ballot.
Following an emergency video conference on the elections, European Council chief Charles Michel said the EU would soon levy sanctions against a "substantial number" of people responsible for vote rigging and the violent suppression of protests in the ex-Soviet country.
The European Union on Wednesday rejected the result of Belarus's disputed presidential election as strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko ordered his security forces to prevent any further unrest.
'No more riots': Lukashenko
The Kremlin on Wednesday described foreign interference in Belarus as "unacceptable" and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned what he said were attempts from abroad to take advantage of unrest in Belarus.
"No one is making a secret of the fact that this is about geopolitics, the fight for the post-Soviet space," he said in a televised interview.
Yet Minsk's ties with Moscow have cooled in recent years after Lukashenko resisted Russian President Vladimir Putin's efforts to integrate the two countries. Ahead of the vote, he accused the Kremlin of dispatching mercenaries to Minsk to stir unrest with the opposition.
Europe's longest-serving leader, Lukashenko has resisted calls to resign or hold new elections and has accused the opposition of attempts to "seize power."
During a meeting of his security council on Wednesday, Lukashenko ordered his government to prevent further unrest and shore up protections along the ex-Soviet country's border.
"There should be no more riots in Minsk. People are tired; people demand peace and quiet," Lukashenko told officials.
He said the protective measures on the border were necessary to stop "militants, weapons, ammunition and money from other countries from entering Belarus to finance the riots."
Tikhanovskaya, a trained English teacher who said she never planned to enter politics, contested the vote after her husband was jailed and barred from running against Lukashenko.
'Peaceful transition of power'
She has vowed to hold new elections and a Coordination Council which her allies created to oversee the transfer of power convened on Wednesday.
In her video to European leaders, Tikhanovskaya said the council would lead the process of a "peaceful transition of power via dialogue" and call for "new fair and democratic presidential elections with international supervision."
Nobel Prize-winning author and outspoken Lukashenko critic Svetlana Alexievich has been named a member of the group.
Lukashenko's claim to victory sparked the largest demonstrations in Belarus since it gained independence with the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.
More than 100,000 demonstrators flooded the streets of the capital Minsk last weekend as frustration reached a fever pitch.
A police crackdown on peaceful protesters in the days after the vote saw nearly 7,000 demonstrators detained and sparked allegations of abuse and torture at the hands of security services.
The health ministry on Wednesday confirmed the death of a 43-year-old man after his family said he was shot while taking part in a protest last week. Two other people are confirmed to have died in post-election unrest.
Pressure not to strike
Lukashenko has handed out awards to some 300 members of his security services for "impeccable service" after rights groups and Western leaders denounced police violence.
Traditionally loyal factory workers at state-run enterprises answered the opposition's calls to strike in an unprecedented display of anger towards the Belarusian leader.
But the authorities appear to be clamping down on employees at state factories walking off the job, with police intervening in a demonstration outside the Minsk Tractor Works on Wednesday morning and arresting protesters.
Activists on social media have said the authorities are exerting enormous pressure on employees at state-run enterprises to refuse to strike, leading to a sharp drop in the numbers of protesters joining the walkouts.
Police on Wednesday also blocked the entrance to the National Academy Theatre in Minsk after staff resigned en masse to protest the forced removal of director and former culture minister Pavel Latushko, who publicly called for new elections.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-19--Russia Slams ‘Foreign Meddling’ in Belarus, Rules Out Immediate Military Aid

Both , however , criticized alleged foreign interference in the post-Soviet country 's affairs following major protests against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko ’ s claim to victory on Aug. 9 .
The Kremlin said Wednesday that events in Belarus did not yet warrant Russia ’ s military involvement , while Russia ’ s foreign minister admitted shortcomings in the disputed presidential elections .
A collective military pact details security guarantees between Russia and Belarus “ but there ’ s currently no such need [ to send assistance ] , ” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Wednesday , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously said Russian President Vladimir Putin had told Lukashenko that his country was ready to assist Belarus , if necessary , as part of the pact .
Peskov added Wednesday that foreign interference in Belarus is “ unacceptable.
” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov joined in the condemnation of what he said were attempts from abroad to take advantage of unrest in Belarus , though he noted that its elections “ were not ideal.
” '' No one is making a secret of the fact that this is about geopolitics , the fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a televised interview .
Lukashenko himself has alleged that NATO deployed tanks and planes near the Belarusian border .
On Wednesday , Lukashenko ordered reinforcements of the state border “ to prevent the flow of militants , arms and money to finance unrest from other countries.
” He also ordered the military to monitor the movements of NATO troops in neighboring Poland and Lithuania .
Ahead of the vote , the Belarusian leader accused the Kremlin of dispatching mercenaries to Minsk to stir unrest .
Following an emergency summit of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that the EU does not recognize the Belarusian election outcome .
EU ministers agreed last week to draw up new sanctions against people behind election rigging and violent protest suppression in Belarus .
Germany has said even stronger penalties should be considered .

Both, however, criticized alleged foreign interference in the post-Soviet country's affairs following major protests against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s claim to victory on Aug. 9.
The Kremlin said Wednesday that events in Belarus did not yet warrant Russia’s military involvement, while Russia’s foreign minister admitted shortcomings in the disputed presidential elections.
A collective military pact details security guarantees between Russia and Belarus “but there’s currently no such need [to send assistance],” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Wednesday, according to the RBC news website.
The Kremlin previously said Russian President Vladimir Putin had told Lukashenko that his country was ready to assist Belarus, if necessary, as part of the pact.
Peskov added Wednesday that foreign interference in Belarus is “unacceptable.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov joined in the condemnation of what he said were attempts from abroad to take advantage of unrest in Belarus, though he noted that its elections “were not ideal.”
"No one is making a secret of the fact that this is about geopolitics, the fight for the post-Soviet space," Lavrov said in a televised interview.
Lukashenko himself has alleged that NATO deployed tanks and planes near the Belarusian border.
On Wednesday, Lukashenko ordered reinforcements of the state border “to prevent the flow of militants, arms and money to finance unrest from other countries.” He also ordered the military to monitor the movements of NATO troops in neighboring Poland and Lithuania.
Ahead of the vote, the Belarusian leader accused the Kremlin of dispatching mercenaries to Minsk to stir unrest.
Following an emergency summit of the European Union’s heads of state, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that the EU does not recognize the Belarusian election outcome.
EU ministers agreed last week to draw up new sanctions against people behind election rigging and violent protest suppression in Belarus. Germany has said even stronger penalties should be considered.
AFP contributed reporting.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-20--Belarus Opens Criminal Case Into Opposition Bids to 'Seize Power'

Strongman Lukashenko , who has been in power for 26 years , claimed a sixth term in elections this month that sparked historic protests and a brutal police crackdown condemned by Western leaders .
Belarus has opened a criminal investigation into attempts by the opposition to `` seize power '' after President Alexander Lukashenko 's opponents created a Coordination Council to oversee a peaceful transition following disputed elections .
The allies of exiled opposition leader and political newcomer Svetlana Tikhanovskaya convened the first meeting of the Coordination Council this week and called for new elections .
`` The creation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at seizing power and undermining the national security of Belarus , '' Prosecutor General Alexander Konyuk said in a video statement , adding that its establishment was `` unconstitutional . ''
He announced that investigators were opening a probe into `` calls for actions aimed at undermining national security , '' a charge that carries a maximum penalty of five years behind bars .
Lukashenko 's claim to victory sparked the largest demonstrations in Belarus since it gained independence with the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union .
A police crackdown on peaceful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw nearly 7,000 demonstrators detained and sparked allegations of abuse and torture at the hands of security services .
On Wednesday , the European Union said it did not recognize the result of the elections and was drawing up sanctions against those responsible for vote rigging and cracking down on protesters .
Lukashenko , who has defied calls to resign , this week ordered his security services to clamp down on further unrest and instructed border authorities to shore up defenses against arms and money entering the country .

Strongman Lukashenko, who has been in power for 26 years, claimed a sixth term in elections this month that sparked historic protests and a brutal police crackdown condemned by Western leaders.
Belarus has opened a criminal investigation into attempts by the opposition to "seize power" after President Alexander Lukashenko's opponents created a Coordination Council to oversee a peaceful transition following disputed elections.
The allies of exiled opposition leader and political newcomer Svetlana Tikhanovskaya convened the first meeting of the Coordination Council this week and called for new elections.
"The creation and activities of such a council are aimed at seizing power and undermining the national security of Belarus," Prosecutor General Alexander Konyuk said in a video statement, adding that its establishment was "unconstitutional."
He announced that investigators were opening a probe into "calls for actions aimed at undermining national security," a charge that carries a maximum penalty of five years behind bars.
Lukashenko's claim to victory sparked the largest demonstrations in Belarus since it gained independence with the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.
A police crackdown on peaceful protesters in the days after the vote saw nearly 7,000 demonstrators detained and sparked allegations of abuse and torture at the hands of security services.
On Wednesday, the European Union said it did not recognize the result of the elections and was drawing up sanctions against those responsible for vote rigging and cracking down on protesters.
Lukashenko, who has defied calls to resign, this week ordered his security services to clamp down on further unrest and instructed border authorities to shore up defenses against arms and money entering the country.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-20--Opposition Figure Navalny 'Poisoned': The Latest News

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is in a coma in a Siberian hospital after being poisoned by a toxic substance @ @ @ @ @ spokeswoman said Thursday .
Here are the latest updates : — Navalny 's personal doctor @ @ @ @ @ she has asked for official assistance in allowing him to be transferred to a leading @ @ @ @ @ — Doctors are refusing to let Navalny 's wife into his hospital room to see @ @ @ @ @ .
Yulia Navalnaya was allegedly told she needed to show her marriage certificate to prove @ @ @ @ @ 's his wife .
— Navalny 's condition has stabilized , the hospital 's deputy @ @ @ @ @ whether he 's still in a coma .
— The Kremlin has wished Navalny a @ @ @ @ @ would consider any requests to take him out of the country for treatment abroad .
@ @ @ @ @ Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov urged people not to speculate about the causes of Navalny 's @ @ @ @ @ test results .

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has arrived in Germany in a stable condition for treatment for a suspected poisoning. He became violently ill on a flight to Moscow on Thursday morning and fell into a coma. His team believes a toxic substance was added to a cup of tea he drank at an airport cafe.
Here are the latest updates:
— The air ambulance transporting Navalny to Germany for treatment has landed, with the opposition leader in a stable condition according to Jaka Bizilj, the head of the Cinema for Peace NGO that organized the flight.
— An air ambulance transporting Navalny to Germany for treatment has taken off from Omsk.
— Omsk doctors have agreed to Navalny's evacuation to a hospital in Berlin as his condition has stabilized, the hospital's deputy chief doctor said. The plane is expected to depart in a few hours.
— "There is a chance that Navalny will now be able to be transported. It is a pity that it took the doctors so long to make this decision," his spokeswoman tweeted.
— Navalny's aides have urged the European Court of Human Rights to ask the Russian government to allow his transfer to Germany, the court said.
— The German doctors who examined Navalny have determined it's safe to transfer him to a German hospital by plane. Doctors in Omsk, meanwhile, have announced that he will stay there "until his condition stabilizes."
— Police say they have identified an industrial chemical substance in Navalny's body. The substance, 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate, could have entered his body through contact with a plastic cup, the Omsk regional police department told Interfax. The chemical is mainly used in plastic packaging for food.
— German medics who have arrived in Omsk on a plane sent to evacuate Navalny have been allowed to see the activist in his hospital room, his chief of staff Leonid Volkov said at a press conference in Berlin. Members of Navalny's team are being barred from speaking to the German medics. "Obviously [the authorities] are trying to hide something from us," Navalnaya says.
— Navalny's wife Yulia Navalnaya has written a direct appeal to President Vladimir Putin to allow her husband's evacuation to a hospital in Germany.
— The German government said it is in contact with Moscow to find a solution to the "humanitarian emergency" of Navalny's hospitalization.
— The Kremlin said the decision not to evacuate Navalny is "purely medical."
— Navalny may have experienced a steep drop in blood sugar during his flight that caused him to lose consciousness, the Omsk hospital's chief doctor said. He added that doctors have refused his evacuation by plane because "this [metabolic] instability can increase during takeoff and landing."
— The hospital's deputy chief doctor said "no trace" of poison has been found in Navalny's system during tests so far, contradicting previous claims by police.
— Doctors have five working diagnoses for Navalny's condition, the head doctor at the Omsk Emergency Hospital told reporters without naming any of the potential diagnoses.
— Head of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation Ivan Zhdanov told journalists that police reported that a “poison” was found in Navalny’s system that is “dangerous to those around him,” but that law enforcement wouldn’t name the substance.
— The plane flying from Germany to Russia to pick up Navalny will arrive in an hour but doctors aren’t allowing him to be transported because his condition is unstable, his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh tweeted early Friday morning, calling the refusal an “attempt on his life."


themoscowtimes--2020-08-20--Stephen Fry ‘Stands With Belarus’

Stephen Fry ‘Stands With Belarus’

Popular British actor and writer Stephen Fry has joined a group of prominent foreign figures in speaking out in support of Belarusians protesting their country ’ s “ rigged ” presidential election .
Tens of thousands of Belarusians have taken to the streets of Minsk and other cities to protest the Aug. 9 vote in which officials claimed President Alexander Lukashenko won a sixth term by a landslide .
Actor and musician Jared Leto and tech billionaire Elon Musk previously went on social media to show support to demonstrators or inquire about what they can do to help .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s desire for democratic change , ” Fry said in a video address posted on Twitter on Thursday .
“ I want you , if you could , to join the Belarus Free Theater campaign and stand with the people of Belarus making their voices heard all over the world , ” he added , referring to an underground Minsk-based theater group .
Fry said Lukashenko “ stole another election from the people , ” while his government “ violently suppressed peaceful protests ” and tortured detainees in the aftermath .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people — workers in major factories , artists , musicians , performers , journalists — bravely standing up and demanding change at great personal risk , ” he said .
Fry urged the British government to follow the European Union in developing sanctions “ against those responsible for violence , repression and the falsification of elections.
” Fry gained popularity in the early 1990s with comedy partner Hugh Laurie , and has forged a successful solo career as comedy actor , quiz show host and author .

Popular British actor and writer Stephen Fry has joined a group of prominent foreign figures in speaking out in support of Belarusians protesting their country’s “rigged” presidential election. Tens of thousands of Belarusians have taken to the streets of Minsk and other cities to protest the Aug. 9 vote in which officials claimed President Alexander Lukashenko won a sixth term by a landslide. Actor and musician Jared Leto and tech billionaire Elon Musk previously went on social media to show support to demonstrators or inquire about what they can do to help.
Breaking into my twitter holiday for an important reason.... #standwithbelarus pic.twitter.com/bJNdiZfeHh — Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) August 20, 2020
“I stand with Belarus and the people’s desire for democratic change,” Fry said in a video address posted on Twitter on Thursday. “I want you, if you could, to join the Belarus Free Theater campaign and stand with the people of Belarus making their voices heard all over the world,” he added, referring to an underground Minsk-based theater group. Fry said Lukashenko “stole another election from the people,” while his government “violently suppressed peaceful protests” and tortured detainees in the aftermath.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-20--Kremlin Critic Navalny in Coma After ‘Poisoning’

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is in a coma in a Siberian hospital after being poisoned by a toxic substance in his tea , his spokeswoman said Thursday .
A hospital representative in the Siberian city of Omsk told journalists that the Kremlin critic is connected to a ventilator and in critical condition .
The representative said that all necessary tests were being taken .
“ We suspect Alexei was poisoned with something mixed into his tea .
It was the only thing he drank all morning , ” Navalny ’ s spokeswoman Kira Yarmish wrote on Twitter Thursday morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was absorbed more quickly through hot liquid.
” The state-run TASS news agency cited a law enforcement official as saying that so far investigators are not considering that Navalny was poisoned intentionally .
On Thursday afternoon , the Interfax news agency cited Vladimir Putin 's spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that the Kremlin wishes Navalny a speedy recovery and that if he needs to leave the country for treatment , the necessary travel requests will be considered .
Peskov also urged people not to speculate about the causes of Navalny ’ s illness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Navalny fell ill during a flight from the Siberian city of Tomsk to Moscow .
A photo surfaced Thursday morning of Navalny drinking a cup of tea in an airport cafe , before another video circling on social media showed him being stretchered off the plane in obvious pain when it made an emergency landing in Omsk .
The manager of the cafe told the Interfax news agency that he would be launching an investigation .
Navalny ’ s personal doctor Anastasiya Vasiliyeva wrote on Twitter that the hospital was refusing to communicate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s pupils were showing reactions .
She said she was on her way to Omsk .
The doctor overseeing Navalny 's treatment told reporters that medics were doing everything to save his life .
Navalny was returning to the Russian capital after touring Siberia in support of independent candidates running in local elections next month .
On Wednesday , he posted a photo on Instagram from the city of Tomsk with the caption : “ Crooks wont kick themselves out of the city parliament !
” A longtime critic of the Kremlin and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Navalny has faced pressure for his activism before .
While serving a 30-day prison sentence last summer for calling on people to attend an anti-government protest , Navalny faced an acute allergic reaction .
At least one doctor said he may have been poisoned .
In 2017 , a pro-Kremlin activist threw a chemical dye at him that left him partially blind in one eye .
That year Navalny had triggered some of the largest anti-government protests in years after his Anti-Corruption Foundation published an investigation into corruption by then Prime Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local Taiga.info news website reported that Navalny may have been in Tomsk to work on an investigation into local deputies representing the ruling United Russia party .
In 2006 , former Russian spy turned critic of President Vladimir Putin Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned by tea laced with a radioactive isotope while in exile in the U.K .
In 2018 , the U.K. accused Russian military intelligence of poisoning former Russian spy Sergei Skripal with Novichok , a military grade nerve agent .
That same year , Pussy Riot activist and publisher of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was rushed to a Moscow hospital after suddenly losing his sight , hearing and mobility .
After three days he was airlifted to Germany , where doctors at a hospital in Berlin said his symptoms were strongly indicative of poisoning .

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who has been a thorn in the Kremlin’s side for years, is in a coma in a Siberian hospital after suffering an apparent poisoning. A hospital representative in the Siberian city of Omsk told journalists on Thursday that the Kremlin critic is connected to a ventilator and in critical condition. The representative said that all necessary tests were being taken. “We suspect Alexei was poisoned with something mixed into his tea. It was the only thing he drank all morning,” Navalny’s spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh wrote on Twitter Thursday morning. “Doctors said that the toxin was absorbed more quickly through hot liquid.” Navalny fell ill during a flight from the Siberian city of Tomsk to Moscow. A photo surfaced Thursday morning of the opposition leader drinking a cup of tea in an airport cafe, before another video circling on social media showed him being stretchered off the plane in obvious pain when it made an emergency landing in Omsk. The state-run Tass news agency cited a law enforcement official as saying that so far investigators are not considering that Navalny was poisoned intentionally.
On Thursday afternoon, the Interfax news agency cited Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that the Kremlin wishes Navalny a speedy recovery and that if he needs to leave the country for treatment, the necessary travel requests will be considered. Peskov also urged people not to speculate about the causes of Navalny’s illness and to wait for test results. “Of course this was an intentional poisoning,” Yarmysh said later on a special broadcast of Navalny’s live YouTube talk show, hosted by ally Vladimir Milov in the opposition leader’s stead. “When we were in the ambulance, the doctors said that it was toxins and he was poisoned.” The Meduza news website cited Navalny’s personal doctor Anastasiya Vasiliyeva, who traveled to Omsk on Thursday, as saying that his blood tests showed good signs but that he was not receiving “detoxification treatment.” In a post on Twitter, Vasiliyeva wrote that Navalny’s team would seek to obtain permission to be flown abroad. She also said that his aides have so far been unable to obtain vital medical documents about Navalny’s condition. The opposition leader’s aides are hoping he сan be moved to a clinic in Europe as they believe Russian doctors will be intimidated into not disclosing the true cause of his illness if it is indeed poisoning. Navalny’s team in Omsk posted on Twitter that Vasiliyeva had already agreed with one clinic to take in the Kremlin critic and that transport had been readied, but that the Omsk hospital had refused to let him go on account of his condition.
news 6 Prominent Russians Who Suffered Poisoning Attacks Read more
Navalny was returning to the Russian capital on Thursday after touring Siberia in support of independent candidates running in local elections next month. On Wednesday, he posted a photo on Instagram from the city of Tomsk with the caption: “Crooks wont kick themselves out of the city parliament!” A longtime critic of the Kremlin and Russia’s de facto opposition leader, Navalny has faced pressure for his activism before. While serving a 30-day prison sentence last summer for calling on people to attend an anti-government protest, Navalny suffered an acute allergic reaction. At least one doctor said he may have been poisoned. In 2017, a pro-Kremlin activist threw a chemical dye at him that left him partially blind in one eye. That year Navalny had triggered some of the largest anti-government protests in years after his Anti-Corruption Foundation published an investigation into corruption by then Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. On Thursday, the local Taiga.info news website reported that Navalny may have been in Tomsk to work on an investigation into local deputies representing the ruling United Russia party.