Putin Opponent 'Aleksei Navalny' Exposed to Poison, Hospitalized

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Alexei Navalny, a counterforce to Russian President Vladimir Putin, was exposed to poison and taken to the hospital.

Alexei Navalny [Photo by AP Yonhap News]

On the 20th (local time), AP News, citing sources from Navalny's side, reported that he complained of physical discomfort after drinking tea on a flight returning from Tomsk, Siberia to Moscow, leading to an emergency landing.

A Navalny associate said, "Navalny was sweating and asked to speak clearly so he could focus on the voice, then went to the restroom and lost consciousness." The associate added, "He only drank tea," and "It is suspected that he was poisoned by something." He also said, "Doctors explained that poison in a hot beverage is absorbed more quickly."

Last year, Navalny was also detained on charges of leading protests and was hospitalized due to an allergic seizure.

Navalny is a leading figure of the Russian opposition and has opposed President Putin. AP News reported that, like other Russian opposition leaders, Navalny has been frequently arrested and harassed by detention authorities.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.