Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been released from the German hospital where he was treated for being poisoned with the nerve poison novichok. The Charité hospital in Berlin reports this on Wednesday.
The 44-year-old Russian was allowed to leave the hospital on Tuesday, according to a statement from the hospital. It also reports that his doctors believe that full recovery is possible, but that it is too early to say what the long-term consequences will be.
Navalny was treated in the Berlin hospital for a total of 32 days. He spent 24 days in intensive care. Before that, he was treated in Russia for a few days. He was kept in an artificial coma for a long time because of his condition.
President Vladimir Putin’s leading critic made himself heard for the first time exactly a week. He posted a photo of himself with his family on Instagram. More photos followed, including one of him climbing stairs.
The poisoning of Navalny with novichock, a deadly gas from the Soviet era, has been confirmed by laboratories in three different countries. Western governments are demanding an explanation from Russia, but the Kremlin says there is not enough evidence for that and denies having been involved in the poisoning.
Navalny suddenly fell seriously ill on a domestic flight in Russia on August 20. Although it was not yet clear what was wrong with him, his supporters soon spoke of poisoning. At the request of his family, he was taken to Berlin by medical flying device.
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