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Kremlin vows should Navalny’s poisoning be confirmed, an investigation will follow

The spokesman refused to comment on the reports of several law enforcement officers arriving at the hospital where Navalny is currently receiving treatment

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov

© Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS

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MOSCOW, August 20. /TASS/. The Russian law enforcement will launch an investigation if the poisoning of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny is confirmed, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday.

"First, we need to wait for the final test results that will help doctors determine what happened, what caused this situation, what caused him [Navalny] to lose consciousness. After that, if a poisoning took place, if there are corresponding statements or if the law enforcement makes other decisions, there will be an investigation," the spokesman said.

The Kremlin spokesman refused to comment on the reports of several law enforcement officers arriving at the hospital where Navalny is currently receiving treatment. When asked whether Russian President Vladimir Putin had been informed of the incident, Peskov noted that "the general situation described in the media <…> is accessible to absolutely everyone, it is accessible to the Russian leader as well through media reviews that he receives on a regular basis." Peskov noted that the situation is transparent, as "doctors regularly inform people of what they are doing, of the condition the patient is in."

When asked whether the Kremlin considers the situation with Navalny’s possible poisoning a special case due to the critical attitude of the opposition politician to the current government, Peskov said that "the current government has many critics," namely among Russian citizens. "Of course, if the life of a Russian citizen is under threat, the situation is serious. Both doctors and the law enforcement treat all citizens equally seriously," the Kremlin spokesman concluded.

"Doctors are doing everything that needs to be done, the best doctors in Omsk are engaged," Peskov pointed out, adding that, according to media reports, Omsk medical workers "are employing telemedicine techniques and holding consultations with experts from Moscow." "We certainly wish a speedy recovery to him, like to any other citizen of our country," the Kremlin spokesman added. Peskov also said that if the Kremlin or the Russian Health Ministry received a request for Navalny’s transfer to a foreign hospital, it would be considered promptly.

On Thursday morning, Navalny’s spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said that the plane carrying the Russian opposition figure made an emergency landing in Omsk after he suddenly felt unwell in mid-flight. According to Yarmysh, Navalny only drank tea in the morning. She claimed that he might have been poisoned.

The medical staff of Omsk Emergency Hospital No. 1 informed that Navalny is currently in an intensive care unit receiving symptomatic treatment, his exact diagnosis is currently being established.

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