German govt on Navalny, Lukashenko's inaguration

A spokesman for German government on Wednesday said that y were "relieved" that Russian opposition leer Alexei Navalny's condition improved suffiently for him to be released from hospital.

Steffen Seibert told reporters in Berlin that it was very encouraging to learn that Navalny completed his inpatient treatment.

Navalny has been released from a Berlin hospital after more than a month's treatment for poisoning, with doctors w believing that it's possible he could see a “complete recovery” from Soviet-era nerve nt, hospital said Wednesday.

Navalny, a politician and corruption investigator who is Putin’s most visible opponent, was flown to Germany two days after falling ill on Aug. 20 on a domestic flight in Russia.

German chemical weapons experts have determined that he was poisoned with Soviet-era nerve nt vichok - findings corroborated by labs in France and Sweden.

Seibert referred queries about Navalny's whereabouts and plans to Navalny and his team.

Navalny will remain in Germany for time being to continue his rehabilitation, his team said.

Seibert once again rejected suggestions that German authorities are responsible for clearing up what happened to Navalny.

He said "crime was committed in Russia" and appealed to Russia to "explain itself on this crime".

German chancellor's spokesman also commented on President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, who assumed his sixth term of office Wednesday during an inauguration ceremony that officials did t anunce in vance.

ceremony comes after after weeks of mass protests against authoritarian leer's reelection, which opposition activists maintain was rigged.

Opponents in Belarus, including candidate who placed a distant second in country's Aug. 9 presidential election, and representatives of European governments said absence of public involvement in inauguration only proved that authoritarian Lukashenko lacked a valid mandate to continue leing.

Seibert said even after ceremony, Lukashenko "cant claim democratic legitimisation".

He renewed calls for Lukashenko to end use of "brutal force" against peaceful demonstrators.