Suspected poisoning of Kara-Murza's mother under investigation
The mother of a well-known Russian opposition figure has been admitted to a German clinic. She suspects someone attempted to poison her.
The mother of prominent Russian opposition leader and Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza has been admitted to Berlin's Charité Clinic. She claims that an attempt was made to poison her, and the German police are investigating the suspicion of attempted murder.
The Berlin police reported on Platform X on Tuesday, December 17th, that a woman had informed the clinic's medical staff of suspected poisoning. She has since been transferred to the isolation ward at the Charité hospital, where comprehensive blood tests for toxic substances are being conducted. The authorities also confirmed that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure public safety and investigate potential suspects.
The first test is negative
Vladimir Kara-Murza confirmed that his mother is receiving treatment at the Charité Clinic. However, suspicions of attempted poisoning or a heart attack were not confirmed, as he wrote on X. This diagnosis was not made at Charité, reports German media, citing information from the clinic's spokesperson.
The newspaper "Der Tagesspiegel" reported, citing "security circles," that initial suspicions involved poisoning with the nerve agent Novichok. However, the result of the first rapid blood test was negative, writes the Berlin newspaper. An extensive blood examination was then supposed to proceed, and the police were to search the victim's apartment.
Two poison attacks
Kara-Murza is one of Russia's most well-known opposition leaders and a critic of Vladimir Putin. In April 2023, he was sentenced to 25 years on treason charges. In August of this year, as part of a prisoner exchange between Russia and the West, he was expelled from Russia. He has already survived two attempts on his life by poison.
After his release, Kara-Murza did not immediately travel to the USA, where his wife and daughters live for safety reasons, but stayed in Germany. His mother has lived in Berlin for a long time.
Navalny, Novichok, and Charité
An attempt was also made to poison Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny with Novichok in August 2020. Shortly afterwards, he was transported to Berlin's Charité and was treated there for several weeks. Upon returning to Russia in January 2021, he was arrested and, after several trials, sentenced to 19 years in a penal colony.
In February of this year, the 47-year-old Navalny unexpectedly died in the penal colony.
