Poisoning of Alexei Navalny

The poisoning of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny with a Novichok nerve agent in August 2020, followed by his evacuation to Germany for treatment.

Novichok agents: A family of highly toxic organophosphorus nerve agents developed in the Soviet Union. German, French, and Swedish laboratories identified a Novichok-type agent in Navalny’s samples.
Tomsk: A city in southwestern Siberia, Russia, and the location Navalny visited before falling ill. Navalny became critically ill during a flight departing Tomsk on 20 August 2020.
Alexei Navalny: A Russian opposition politician and anti-corruption activist who became a prominent critic of Vladimir Putin. Navalny was the target of the 2020 poisoning and later led investigations into the alleged operation.
Chemical Weapons Convention: A treaty prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons. The Novichok findings raised questions about Russia’s obligations under the treaty.
Cholinesterase inhibitor: A substance that blocks enzymes responsible for breaking down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Novichok agents disrupt nerve signaling by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase.
Omsk: A city in southwestern Siberia, Russia, where Navalny’s aircraft made an emergency landing. Navalny was hospitalized in Omsk before being transferred abroad.
Vladimir Putin: A Russian politician who has served as president or prime minister of Russia since 1999. Putin denied Russian state responsibility and discussed Navalny’s case publicly.
European Union sanctions against Russia: Restrictive measures imposed by the European Union on Russian individuals and entities in response to specified actions. The EU sanctioned Russian officials over Navalny’s poisoning in October 2020.
Acetylcholinesterase: An enzyme that rapidly breaks down acetylcholine at nerve synapses and neuromuscular junctions. Its inhibition explains the severe neurological effects associated with nerve-agent exposure.
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin: A major university hospital in Berlin that provides clinical care and conducts medical research. Charité treated Navalny after his evacuation and reported signs of cholinesterase-inhibitor poisoning.

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