Novichok group toxin used on Navalny 'harder' than previous forms: Report

Soviet-style nerve nt from vichok group used to poison Russian opposition leer Alexei Navalny was “harder” than previous forms, a German magazine reported. According to Der Spiegel, Germany’s foreign intelligence service informed in a “secret meeting” that strength of toxin indicates possible involvement of Russian President Vlimir Putin in case.

Bru Kahl, president of Federal Intelligence Service (BND), reportedly said that more complex and rarer chemical composition of poison, more likely involvement of Kremlin in poisoning of Putin’s critic. German health authorities h earlier confirmed poisoning of Navalny with a nerve nt from vichok group, citing toxicological test results.

Navalny has been removed from a medically-induced coma as his health condition improved. Berlin’s Charité University hospital said in a statement that Kremlin critic, who fell unconscious during a flight due to alleged poisoning and was transferred to hospital on August 22, will be grually taken out of ventilator support.

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Calls for probe and accountability

United States told UN Security Council on September 10 that it work with allies to hold people accountable for poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, including through “restricting funds for malign activities.” Cherith rman Chalet, deputy US ambassor to United Nations, told council that Russian people have a right to express ir views without fear of retribution of any kind. 

rman Chalet urged Russia to be fully transparent cooperate with international community’s probe into this latest attack. ambassor reiterated that use of chemical weapons presents an “unacceptable security threat” to all states, urging members of Council to t stay silent. 

Russia has vehemently denied its involvement in poison attack and asked Germany to share evidence to prompt an investigation. Russian ambassor to UN, Vassily Nebenzia, told 15-member council that doctors who initially treated Navalny and “saved” his life did t find any chemical weapon substances in his analyses. 

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(Im credit: AP)