EU condemns Navalny poisoning, demands probe

The European Commission on Thursday condemned the poisoning of the Kremlin's most determined critic, Alexei Navalny, and urged Moscow to investigate the matter "in a transparent and thorough manner".

The remarks from EC spokesman Peter Stano came after the German government said Navalny was poisoned with the same type of Soviet-era nerve agent that British authorities identified in a 2018 attack on a former Russian spy.

"All the EU leaders and leaders of the member states are very clear in their strong condemnation of the use of this chemical agent against Mr. Navalny," Stano told reporters in Brussels.

The findings - which experts say point strongly to Russian state involvement - are likely to increase tensions between Russia and the West.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the poisoning on Navalny attempted murder.

Navalny fell ill on a flight to Moscow on Aug. 20 and was taken to a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk after the plane made an emergency landing.

He was moved two days later to Berlin’s Charite hospital, where doctors last week said initial tests indicated Navalny had been poisoned.