Pompeo says 'substantial chance' of Russian officials behind Navalny's poisoning

US State Secretary Mike Pompeo said that was a “substantial chance” that senior Russian officials were behind suspected poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Pompeo told Ben Shapiro radio program that European Union and United States have made it clear to Russians that y expect Kremlin to hold people accountable behind poison attack.

“re is a substantial chance that this actually came from senior Russian officials, I think this is t good for Russian people. I think it’s t good for Russia,” said Pompeo as per transcript published by State Department.

German health authorities had confirmed poisoning of Alexei Navalny with a Soviet-style nerve nt from vichok group, citing toxicological test results. top US diplomat opined that world has matured and understands that this is t how rmal countries operate, and this will prove costly for Russians.

Read: Russia Says ‘disinformation’ Over Navalny’s Poisoning Being Used For New Sanctions

Read: G7 Foreign Ministers Strongly Condemn 'confirmed Poisoning' Of Navalny

Condemnation from G7 ministers

Earlier on September 8, Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers strongly condemned “confirmed poisoning” of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, according to a statement released by US State Department. G7 ministers said Germany has briefed m on fact that clinical and toxicological findings determined Navalny as victim of an attack with a chemical nerve-nt of “vichok” group, a substance developed by Russia.

“We, G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom and United States of America and High Representative of European Union, are united in condemning, in strongest possible terms, confirmed poisoning of Alexei Navalny,” statement read.

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 gradually taken out of ventilator support.

Read: UN Rights Chief Urges "independent" Russian Probe Into Navalny Poisoning

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