RUSSIAN PUNK GROUP MEMBER ‘POISONED’
Canadian who invaded World Cup pitch now unresponsive in hospital
APUSSY Riot activist who took part in a pitch invasion during the 2018 World Cup has been hospitalised suffering from apparent poisoning from medical drugs, his partner told local media yesterday.
Pyotr Verzilov, who has both Canadian and Russian citizenship, was admitted to hospital following a court hearing on Tuesday unable to speak and recognise people, said his girlfriend Veronika Nikulshina, also a Pussy Riot member.
The Moscow trauma hospital where Verzilov is being treated said he remains in intensive care in a “serious condition”.
Nikulshina told Meduza that Verzilov, 30, had apparently suffered poisoning from a large amount of a type of medication.
“It’s definitely poisoning, poisoning with anti-cholinergic drugs,” Nikulshina said.
Such drugs are used to treat a range of medical issues including lung conditions. Verzilov’s relatives have told media that he was not taking any medications.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday said that Ottawa was taking Verzilov's illness “very seriously” and would ensure that he received support.
Verzilov's sudden illness has been compared by local media to the case of Kremlin opponent and rights activist Vladimir KaraMurza, who fell ill in 2015 and was diagnosed with acute kidney failure in connection with poisoning.
He was found to have high levels of heavy metals in his blood.
Kara-Murza was deeply involved in lobbying in the United States for the expansion of the Magnitsky Act imposing sanctions on Russian officials.