Russian politicians divided about Navalny's illness

Members of different Russian political parties reacted on Saturday to the sudden illness of Alexei Navalny, a 44 year-old political dissident who has been in a coma since Thursday.

Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a member of the Russian Parliament for the Nationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, said that the suspicion of poisoning is a western provocation.

Zhirinovsky compared Navalny with the Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó and to the Belarusian opposition member Siarhei Tsikhanouski who was jailed in May.

"He is their agent. They are making him popular as they did with (Juan) Guaidó, as with (Siarhei) Tsikhanouski. And now they've exposed themselves. They don't understand that our people will never vote for him. Never!," said Zhirinovsky.

Zhirinovsky said his party is against Navalny's return to Russia.

Zhirinovsky views contrasted with the members of the liberal Yabloko party, who laid flowers on Saturday morning to the victims of the failed 1991 Soviet coup.

Galina Mikhalyova who worked along with Navalny while he was a Yabloko party member between 2000 to 2007, said the Russian authorities are still using old tactics to eliminate political enemies.

"Unfortunately, our regime continues to use old Soviet KGB methods to eliminate foes, then nobody knows what has happened," said Mikhalyova.

"I hope that in Berlin, where Alexei is now, he will be сured and determine the diagnose," Mikhalyova added.

Navalny arrived in Berlin on a special flight Saturday and is currently receiving treatment by specialists at the German capital's main hospital.