Russian chemical weapons agents from the Federal Security Service (FSB) tracked the suspected poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny for three-and-a-half years and were near him shortly before he was poisoned, according to investigation reports.
Navalny responded to reports accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of state terrorism for using his intelligence services to kill dissidents. The Russian government, which has denied the poisoning, did not immediately respond to the report.
The Bellingcat online news service reported that three FSB agents, including special agent Vladimir Panyaev, Alexey Alexandrov and Ivan Osipov, both qualified doctors, followed Navarny to the Siberian city of Tomsk in August. Navarny went to the area to meet with supporters and prepare for the local elections.
Alexandrov, who according to phone records had been staying not far from Navarny’s hotel, had been using his personal phone to reveal his whereabouts.
The report did not confirm how Navalny was poisoned, but said he had ordered the bloody Mary at the hotel bar the night before he fell into a coma. But the bartender said he had no information and suggested he switch to another cocktail, which Navalny said tasted so bad that he took only one sip. Navalny was in a coma on a flight from Tomsk to Moscow, the capital, on the morning of August 20. The nerve agent involved was similar to the Russian-made Novichok, but the Russian government has denied any involvement.
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