EU condemns Navalny poisoning, demands probe

European Commission on Thursday condemned poisoning of Kremlin's most determined critic, Alexei Navalny, and urged Moscow to investigate matter "in a transparent and thorough manner".

remarks from EC spokesman Peter Sta came after German government said Navalny was poisoned with same of Soviet-era nerve nt that British authorities identified in a 2018 attack on a former Russian spy.

"All EU leers and leers of member states are very clear in ir strong condemnation of use of this chemical nt against Mr. Navalny," Sta told reporters in Brussels.

findings - which experts say point strongly to Russian state involvement - are likely to increase tensions between Russia and West.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called poisoning on Navalny attempted murder.

Navalny fell ill on a flight to Moscow on Aug. 20 and was taken to a hospital in Siberian city of Omsk after plane me an emergency landing.

He was moved two days later to Berlin’s Charite hospital, where doctors last week said initial tests indicated Navalny h been poisoned.