Russia: Germany has provided no proof of poisoning

MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman brushed off allegations Thursday that the Kremlin was involved in poisoning the Russian leader’s most determined critic, accusing Germany of not providing Moscow with any evidence about the condition of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny.

Mr. Navalny, a politician and corruption investigator, fell ill on a flight to Moscow on Aug. 20 and was taken to a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk. He has been in an induced coma in a Berlin hospital after being flown from Siberia to Germany for treatment more than a week ago.

The White House on Thursday denounced the poisoning and suggested the United States might retaliate if the Kremlin is to blame, but President Donald Trump has failed to repudiate the attack himself, prompting criticism he is once again being soft on Mr. Putin.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany called the poisoning “completely reprehensible” but did not address a question about whether Mr. Trump has “made his voice known to the Russian government.”

German authorities said Wednesday tests showed “proof without doubt” he had been poisoned with a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok group. British authorities identified the Sovietera Novichok as the poison used on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England in 2018.

But Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov insisted Thursday that Russian authorities still had not received any evidence from Germany to back up their allegation.

“We haven’t received any information so far,” Mr. Peskov said. “We hope that it will happen soon and will help figure out what caused the condition the patient is in right now.”

Mr. Peskov reiterated Russian specialists in Omsk tested Mr. Navalny for poisonous substances and didn’t find any in his system. He said Russian investigators conducting a preliminary inquiry into Mr. Navalny’s illness should know “what our German colleagues found and established.”

Following his stay in Omsk, Mr. Navalny was moved two days later to Berlin’s Charite hospital after German Chancellor Angela Merkel personally offered the country’s assistance in treating him. He’s now in stable condition, but doctors expect a long recovery and haven’t ruled out the 44- year- old Mr. Navalny could face long- term effects to his health.

Ms. Merkel on Wednesday called Mr. Navalny’s poisoning an attempted murder that aimed to silence one of Mr. Putin’s fiercest critics and called for a full investigation.

“There are very serious questions now that only the Russian government can answer — and must answer,” Ms. Merkel said.

Asked about Mr. Peskov’s comments on Thursday, Ms. Merkel said, “Naturally, I am aware of what is being said now” but refused to comment further.