Russian dissident Alexei arrives at Berlin hospital

[uk666]

Russian dissident Alexei arrives at Berlin hospital

Putin trolls his 'poisoned' critic Alexei Navalny: Kremlin wishes him a 'speedy recovery' as doctors fight to save him after 'toxins were poured into his tea', leaving him screaming in agony

Alexei Navalny, who remains in a coma after his condition deteriorated on Thursday, was transported from a Siberian hospital to Berlin on a special medical plane.

The Russian opposition leader's supporters claim that the Kremlin is responsible for his illness, as well as the delay in transferring him overseas.

Doctors in the Siberian city of Omsk have rejected the possibility that Mr Navalny was poisoned - suggesting a drop in blood sugar may have caused him to lose consciousness.

But Western toxicology experts have expressed doubts over whether a poisoning could be ruled out so quickly.

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel joined French President Emmanuel Macron in expressing concern over Navalny's condition and said he could receive treatment in Germany or France.

Early on Saturday morning, Mr Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh tweeted: "The plane with Alexei has taken off for Berlin. A huge thank you to everyone for your support.

"The struggle for Alexei's life and health is just beginning and there will be much more to go through, but at least now the first step has been taken."

Ms Yarmysh said Mr Navalny's wife Yulia, who has been campaigning for his removal from the Siberian hospital, was also on board along with German medical specialists.

Flight tracking data showed the plane landed at Tegel airport several hours later, and a German army ambulance transported Mr Navalny to Berlin's main hospital.

It is not the first time Moscow has been accused of using poisoning as a tactic to threaten or remove unwanted opponents.

Previous high profile cases include the 2006 assassination of Alexander Litvinenko and March 2018 attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury.

Leaders of France and Germany said on Thursday they were ready to assist Mr Navalny and his family, and called for an investigation into what had happened.

He campaigned to challenge Mr Putin in the 2018 presidential election but was barred from running.

Since then, his Foundation for Fighting Corruption has continuously challenged members of the ruling party, United Russia.

Like many other opposition politicians in Russia, Mr Navalny has been frequently detained by law enforcement and harassed by pro-Kremlin groups.