German response to Kremlin allegations over Navalny

The German Chancellor's spokesperson on Wednesday said tests indicating that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny were carried out by doctors "without any political influence".

Ulrike Demmer's comments come after the Kremlin said Wednesday it was interested in establishing what caused Navalny's illness.

He remains in a coma in a German hospital after the suspected poisoning, as international pressure on Russian authorities to investigate the politician's condition mounted.

The statement came two days after doctors at a German hospital where the 44-year-old is being treated said tests indicated he was poisoned.

Demmer would not comment directly, but said that "from the side of the German government, there is the fullest trust in the work of the doctors."

She said Germany takes the clinical evidence of a poisoning "very seriously" and reiterated Merkel's call for a probe.

"The German government expects from the Russian government a transparent and speedy investigation," she said.