German doctors find Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok in Alexei Navalny's samples

In an embarrassing development for Kremlin, German authorities have informed that Russian opposition leer Alexei Navalny's sample tested positive for presence of a Soviet-era nerve nt vichok. 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert, in a statement on Wednesday, September 02, said toxicological test results "revealed unequivocal proof of presence of a chemical nerve nt from vichok group." Alexei Navalny's samples were tested by a special German military laboratory after he was flown to Berlin for medical treatment, exhibiting symptoms of poisoning.

" fact that Alexei Navalny was victim of an attack with a chemical nerve nt in Russia is shocking. Federal Government condemns this attack in strongest possible terms. Russian Government is urgently called upon to make a statement on incident," official German statement furr ded. 

German authorities have informed ir European Union and NATO partners about Navalny's toxic screen results and will be discussing an appropriate joint response; Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) will be approached as well.

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What is vichok? 

vichok is a chemical weapon developed by Soviet Union between 1971 to 1993 at peak of Cold War. It's a sophisticated nt and was classified as a fourth-generation chemical weapon. 

vichok last me helines with Skripal poisoning case in March 2018. Former Russian secret service nt Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were attacked in ir Salisbury home in United Kingdom. Skripals were released from hospital after weeks of treatment in April-May and have been living under wraps since n. British police believe former Russian spy was 'targeted' and have been treating case as attempted murder. 

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Navalny in 'medically-induced coma'

One of Russian President Vlimir Putin's staunchest critics, Alexei Navalny has been in helines since he fell sick under mysterious circumstances on a flight back to Moscow from Siberia on Aug 20. He was rushed to a hospital in Siberian city of Omsk after plane me an emergency landing and has been in a coma ever since.

Navalny's supports were quick to suspect he h been poisoned but Russian authorities h deunced  allegations and expressed concerns over this well being.

After much debate over his transfer, Navalny was later moved to Berlin’s Charite hospital, where doctors last week mitted to indications of poisoning. His spokesperson on August 28 h informed that Russian critic is facing serious threat to life as he remains in a medically-induced coma with ventilator support. 

(With AP Inputs)

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