Which politician was poisoned

Navalny releases recording of call to his alleged poisoner. In this image taken from a video released on Dec. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Monday released a recording of a phone call he said he made to an alleged state security operative who revealed details of how the politician was poisoned. Navalny Instagram account via AP. Full Coverage: Russia. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. The Associated Press.

All rights reserved. A YouTube video by the foundation laying out details of a corruption investigation into the-then prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, has had nearly 36 million views. Although a prominent opposition figure, it would be wrong to call Navalny the singular opposition leader in Russia.

Quite how these figures, as well as election results, would change if Russia had a freer media and electoral landscape is not clear. But, as things stand, Navalny is the most high-profile Kremlin critic operating within Russia. Another reason why labelling Navalny as an opposition leader is inappropriate relates to the fact that political opposition forces in Russia are fragmented. They often find it hard to coordinate their activities in a way that could mount an effective challenge to the authorities.

And this certainly suits the Kremlin. Navalny has, however, spearheaded an effort to help overcome the coordination problems facing the political opposition. The initiative appears to have had some success, including in the elections for the Moscow City Council. Top EU official: Belarus is 'weaponizing human suffering' to attack Europe. Devotees bathe in sacred river covered in toxic foam. Satellite images of mockup US Navy ships in China spark concern. These farmers say this drug could boost their country's economy.

Brothel offers free entry, but there's a catch. Video from Poland-Belarus border shows thousands caught in standoff. Satellite images show China's new aircraft carrier with advanced technology. Hear the story behind iconic image of minister's speech in the sea. International travelers reunite with loved ones as US reopens. What's causing another coronavirus surge in Europe? Migrants caught in border standoff struggle to survive October The stunning disclosure from an agent who belonged to an elite toxins team in Russia's FSB security service came in a lengthy phone call following the unmasking of the unit by CNN and the online investigative outfit Bellingcat last week.

In what he was told was a debriefing, Konstantin Kudryavtsev also talked about others involved in the poisoning in the Siberian city of Tomsk, and how he was sent to clean things up.

Konstantin Kudryavtsev revealed he traveled to Omsk in Siberia to try to clean up evidence after Alexey Navalny was poisoned. But the agent was not speaking to an official in Russia's National Security Council as he thought. He was talking to Navalny himself, who almost died after being poisoned in August. Navalny has long been a thorn in the side of President Vladimir Putin, exposing corruption in high places and campaigning against the ruling United Russia party. Read More. Putin essentially confirmed last week that FSB agents tailed Navalny but said if Russia had wanted him dead, "they would've probably finished it.

Oleg Tayakin opened the door to CNN but closed it as soon as he was asked about his role in tailing Navalny. After identifying most of the team, CNN and Bellingcat tried to contact them and their superiors. Others did not respond. At the same time, Navalny was also making calls.

The name Novichok means "newcomer" in Russian, and applies to a group of advanced nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union in the s and s.

Novichok agents have similar effects to other nerve agents - they act by blocking messages from the nerves to the muscles, causing a collapse of many bodily functions. While some Novichok agents are liquids, others are thought to exist in solid form. This means they can be dispersed as an ultra-fine powder. Novichoks were designed to be more toxic than other chemical weapons, so some versions begin to take effect rapidly - in the order of 30 seconds to two minutes. In , Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were left critically ill in the British city of Salisbury, after Russian suspects were alleged to have smeared the nerve agent on the door handle of the former Russian spy's home.

Dawn Sturgess, 44, was later exposed to the same nerve agent and died in hospital. Her partner became critically ill but recovered. Mr Navalny is an anti-corruption campaigner who has led nationwide protests against the Russian authorities. He has called Mr Putin's party a place of "crooks and thieves" that is "sucking the blood out of Russia". However, he has been banned from standing against Mr Putin in elections because of a conviction for embezzlement. He denies the crime, saying his legal troubles are Kremlin reprisals for his fierce criticism.

There have been a number of previous attacks on high-profile critics or opponents of President Putin, including politicians, intelligence officers and journalists. The Kremlin has always denied involvement.

In , Alexander Litvinenko - an ex-Russian intelligence officer who became a Kremlin critic and fled to the UK - died after his tea was poisoned by radioactive polonium