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Russian opposition leader Navalny in coma after suspected poisoning

46 Comments
By Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber and Andrew Osborn

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46 Comments
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Putin...What a vile human being!

23 ( +24 / -1 )

Don't mess with Tziny Putin.

21 ( +22 / -1 )

Politics is indeed a poisoned cup from which to sup. Especially in Russia, China they just lock you up harvest an organ or two. Siberia a cup of tea will do it.

20 ( +21 / -1 )

but it’s system specific, not russian specific, to keep it ‘fair’

What a nasty vile dictator they have in that nation. I just wonder, do Russian people respect Putin? Are they proud that he poisons and eliminates any political opposition voice?

For a nation that is famous for it's political and literary history, how can it have come to this where they have a dictator in sole power?

20 ( +21 / -1 )

Nobody would do this without Putin’s permission. whether he ordered it or not, he is complicit.

I really hope the West gets together and economically and culturally embargoes Russia. No oil purchases. No agricultural purchases. Nothing.

And let’s have a dump of documents about how a guy that’s worked for the state his entire life is magically become a billionaire.

In addition all forms of soft power - ballet and symphony tours banned. Russia has more than earned a world wide ban on its athletics teams in all sports for its State mandates doping system. Let’s kick them out of the Olympics for as long a Putin is in power.

The Soviet Rulers had absolute authority over the state until they didn’t. Putin can feel the ground shifting under his tinpot dictatorship and is trying to decapitate the opposition before it can solidify around a central figure.

19 ( +20 / -1 )

Sad to read Asakaze comments defending regime crimes. I hope you are not bad person, just naive person. They came for Alexey today, tomorrow they will come just because you not in-line with party line.

Алексей, живи!

11 ( +12 / -1 )

It's a dangerous life opposing Czar Putin the first. Poisoning his enemies is a standard reaction.

@Joeintokyo

Navalny polls at 1-2%. Quite the opposition

With rigged elections he could poll 60 or 70% but the official figures would still say 2%. Also all the media is in the hands of Putin and his cronies so the Russian people get no chance to hear any different narrative. Standard dictatorship behaviour.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

One of the riskiest jobs in the world is leader of the political party in opposition to Putin. Get jailed for corruption after being framed. Get poisoned by Putin's henchmen. All the credible opponents with a real chance are taken out of the equation by Putin before any elections. This has been going on for decades and will continue even after Putin leaves office, probably after a natural death while still President in 20 years or so.

Putin's party is so used to using those tactics it will take another revolution to end the current corruption in government and the danger is it may be replaced by a slightly different version rather than a democracy.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Putin keeping things classy as usual. Feel sorry for Russian people who are stuck with a true dictator who thinks he should rule until he dies. Just like Xi who has basically decreed the same thing. And Trump would if he could but, thankfully, the US has some rules that still must be followed.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

It was only a matter of time....how much do Russians want to be a normal country.....stop supporting Putin now or sink into the same abyss that the USSR ended up in.

I wish for Alexi's recovery, he is a brave man to live such a life.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Putin did not rise to the position of supreme dictator by being a nice fellow.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Not bored. To the contrary - very alert and active.

You skipped the bit where you revealed how you know that Navalny is a foreign agent and why foreign intelligence deemed him no longer useful. Pretty big claims, and ones that Vlad himself doesn't seem to be aware of him or Navalny would have long since been arrested.

But that's irrelevant because it's all nonsense that you just made up.

Let's wait for results of the investigation.

Lol, brilliant. I'm sure it will be thorough, fair and undoubtedly already written.

Your lack of critical thinking on the current Russian regime makes me wonder what the story is with you? What happened to make you lose your ability to think critically?

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Tell us how many, where, when.

Markov, Litvinenko, the Skripals, Kara-Murza, Yushchenko, the list goes on since the 1920s.

Just imagine a leader of a British or American political party who frequents Russian embassy as Navalny frequented Anerican.

And then that American politician was poisoned on American soil by the Russians he was spying for because he had 'outlived his usefulness'? Are you claiming the CIA did this to Navalny on Russian soil?

So I'll ask again; Why wasn't Navalny arrested for treason? He was arrested for pretty much anything else he did.

Caught by whom? Doing what? Lying about what?

Lying about all of it! They are GRU colonels, not 'sports nutrition businessmen' who travel using alternative identities, or 'civilians' as Vlad claimed. They are decorated 'Heroes of Russia.'

Bellingcat struck again? Then go to court if you have such great evidence!

Warrants have been issued for the arrest of Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov by the UK and the EU. Russia doesn't extradite its spies, or any suspected criminal for that matter, but they won't be selected for any more botched foreign missions I fear.

Put them behind bars for their crimes

"Then go to court if you have such great evidence!" And believe me, if you have great evidence I'll be the first to applaud.

If you are really able to recognize the Western crimes then I hope you also understand that a murderer may not be a judge.

Western crimes do not excuse Putin's crimes, can you at least recognize that through the red fog?

6 ( +7 / -1 )

There is a more logical explanation of what happened. Western intelligence services decided to make a martyr of anti-Putin fight from their agent who outlived his usefulness

That you find that in any way 'more logical' tells me who is really part of a 'Putin-(didn't)-do-it cult'.

But if Navalny was poisoned by bored foreign intelligence, Putin should have no problem in deducing and proving that, right?

Since the talentless Skripal show failed miserably

You are right, but for the wrong reasons. Skirpal lived, and the hapless GRU colonels who allowed themselves to be identified seem to have disappeared.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Well, at least Putin's buddy, Trump, will cover for Putin and say it can't be Putin.

Can we add that to the long list of failed predictions?

Err, no. Failed predictions can’t happen before they have played out. You’re a bit early on the trigger with that one.

Joe has enough nurses around him to keep him alive, don´t worry. What you should worry is about that mentally disingrating guy anywhere near the nuclear button.

Barack isn’t American, Michelle is a man, Joe has dementia.

Whatever facts will trump fans throw at us next?

Fear again. You are afraid Joe will push the big red button. What a ridiculous thing to be afraid of, how do you sleep?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Putin back to his old killing-the-opposition methods. He's scared that Belerus political issues will expand into Russia.

Quite insecure in himself.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

I know it just as you and others here know "Putin did it".

At no point have I claimed that Putin did it.

By the way, on Youtube were videos of Navalny conferring with U.S. diplomats.

That's it? That's your proof for Navalny being a foreign spy, discarded and then poisoned? Do people who talk to diplomats automatically become spies? Has Vlad 'conferred' with US diplomats? That's so weak, you should be able to do better but you can't, as you've made it all up in the last couple of hours.

And I also noticed that you skipped the subject of Skripal muppet show.

That boat has long since sailed for you fella. They have been caught doing it, caught lying about it, caught lying about their military past and their 'Hero of Russia' chumminess with Vlad. Super thanks to Yandex, the muppet show at the GRU and the corrupt Russian bureaucracy that allows public records to be bought on CDs for mere rubles.

What the story with you, with your complete lack of critical thinking on the current Western regimes that with absolute impunity start wars

We've spoken about this in the past and agreed that this has happened. Remember? Blair, Bush, Cheney?

You assume that I am unable to recognize the crimes of western leaders simply because you are unable to do so with Vlad.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

This is so blatantly obvious that the State carried out this assassination attempt, that it has to be questionable whether or not they did so...

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Joe, be very careful - ask someone to test your food before eating....

You know Donald will try to copy his Master....that's all he's done for the past three and a half years...

And if someone sends you a bottle of Stoli, send it back to the White House...

4 ( +6 / -2 )

What you should worry is about that mentally disingrating guy anywhere near the nuclear button.

That has been said about EVERY presidential candidate since the 50’s. You know, back in the old days.

Just trying to put your mind at rest since you’re clearly a bit dolly dimple.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Putin's got form

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Well, at least Putin's buddy, Trump, will cover for Putin and say it can't be Putin. Is it any wonder why Trump chooses to side with despots and dictators like Putin and Kim Jong Un, while attacking the CIA, FBI, CDC, and his own fellow Americans (at least the ones who don't agree with him)?

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Unreal - Putin is a merciless dictator.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

KGB at it again

2 ( +3 / -1 )

This guy has been poisoned many times in the past but he survived each one. He will survive this one too. Putin is the devil incarnate. The latest in the story is he has been airlifted to a specialist hospital in Western Europe.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Cui bono? The usual suspects in the Kremlin snake pit. It would have been a good chance for Trump to undo some of the damage he did to his country by allowing the Kremlin vipers to crawl into America's electoral system and poison the body politic, but he now lacks all moral authority to lead a coalition of countries to expel the pariah Putin from the international stage. This latest in a long series of state terrorist actions must surely be the final straw that breaks the patient backs of millions of decent Russians who now need to give Putin the Lukashenko treatment. The vile Kremlin gnome, Putin, must be made to pay. He will at least go down in Russian history as "Vlad the Poisoner"

2 ( +4 / -2 )

@ PTownsend

Your reasoning is irrefutable, but living as we must in a material world dominated by greed and self-interest, we cannot help but carry the candle of hope and righteousness flickering in the wind of the wicked and we must go on, never giving up our saving grace, the belief that morality and spiritual values will triumph in the long term. And only the Russians themselves can fix the corruption and terror that stymies democracy by decapitating the rotting heads of the Kremlin Mafia.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Mysterious poisoning attacks are so rare in these modern times - and yet it's always the opposition parties, not the regime parties

It's too much to be random

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Putin, must be made to pay.

As long as Russia has oil, gas and coal and Putin has control over their sales,

as long as Putin's fellow fossils are running the global fossil economy,

as long as the world's populations are willing to accept the the rule of the globe's fossils,

as long as Russian people continue to want him to be ruler for life (2036),

and as long as the global alt right see his brand of national socialism as preferable to democracy and as long as they are willing to serve as useful I's for him, Putin's secure.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

to hospital with suspected poisoning,

Of course Putin had nothing to do with this. The global alt right and their Russian comrades will come quick to Putin's defense, blaming 'the media' for reporting this, saying whatever 'the media' report will be 'western biased', saying 'Can't prove it! The 'west' is worse'. Or maybe 'It was a false flag'. And to think there are 'westerners' who also want a 'Supreme Leader' (until 2036).

-2 ( +13 / -15 )

All because Navalny is a fierce critic of Vlad, and that Vlad likes to kill people with his signature poison, is that any reason to believe that this was ordered by Vlad?

-2 ( +9 / -11 )

@ClippetyClop

Markov, Litvinenko, the Skripals, Kara-Murza, Yushchenko, the list goes on since the 1920s

You contradict yourself. First you say "I never claim Putin did it", now you claim it (again). Logic is a rare virtue among the Putin-did-it cultists. And he did it "since the 1920"? Brilliant! By the way, do you know the number of attempts CIA tried to poison Castro?

Are you claiming the CIA did this to Navalny on Russian soil?

You claim that GRU did it to Skripals on UK soil?

Why wasn't Navalny arrested for treason?

Well, according to many from the anti-Trump crowd here Trump is a confirmed Russian agent. Why he is not arrested?

Warrants have been issued for the arrest of Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov by the UK and the EU

That's all? Wild long howls about "Crime of the century", and all of a sudden such humbleness? Why not to start a trial? This duo is ready to testify, just ask. And yes, at last produce facts. Start with the original medical records.

And believe me, if you have great evidence I'll be the first to applaud

The order to start aggressions against other countries is not enough? Hundreds of thousands of dead people are not enough evidence for you? And after that you are trying to say something about Putin??

excuse Putin's crimes, can you at least recognize that

Recognize when see any. Exactly, what crimes? I mean facts, not your rainbow dream fantasies. So far I see only Al Capone pointing to a speeding driver - "hey, he also is a bad guy".

@u_s__reamer

Cui bono? The usual suspects in the Kremlin snake pit

Right question, wrong answer. For the Kremlin Navalny is a harmless village idiot. The usual suspects in the Washington and London snake pits are more interested in all this. Show must go on!! The Skripal show fizzled, let another show shine!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

jack o helen

Well, at least Putin's buddy, Trump, will cover for Putin and say it can't be Putin.

Can we add that to the long list of failed predictions?

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

lincolnman

Joe, be very careful - ask someone to test your food before eating....

Joe has enough nurses around him to keep him alive, don´t worry. What you should worry is about that mentally disingrating guy anywhere near the nuclear button.

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

You skipped the bit where you revealed how you know that Navalny is a foreign agent

I know it just as you and others here know "Putin did it". By the way, on Youtube were videos of Navalny conferring with U.S. diplomats.

And I also noticed that you skipped the subject of Skripal muppet show. Nothing to say? Or I can expect something else you will make up?

Your lack of critical thinking on the current Russian regime makes me wonder what the story is with you?

Wrong question. What the story with you, with your complete lack of critical thinking on the current Western regimes that with absolute impunity start wars (killing hundreds of thousands of people), invade other countries, stage coups, destroy whole countries like poor Ukraine. Not ashamed of this utmost duplicity?

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

At no point have I claimed that Putin did it

From your first post: "Vlad likes to kill people with his signature poison". Tell us how many, where, when.

That's your proof for Navalny being a foreign spy, discarded and then poisoned?

I have the same right to say it as the people with "Putin-did-it" mentality. Why you did not ask them for proof?

Do people who talk to diplomats automatically become spies?

Just imagine a leader of a British or American political party who frequents Russian embassy as Navalny frequented Anerican.

That boat has long since sailed for you fella

What a surpise. So, all of a sudden, the mighty hysteria "chemical attack on British soil" came to zero, boat fella?

They have been caught doing it, caught lying about it

Caught by whom? Doing what? Lying about what? "You've made it all up in the last couple of hours", heh?

the muppet show at the GRU

Bellingcat struck again? Then go to court if you have such great evidence!

Remember? Blair, Bush, Cheney?

Put them behind bars for their crimes, jail Obama for the Libyan invasion, only then the West will regain some moral authority and only then it should be allowed to open its mouth. Untill then to compare the West to Putin is just like to compare Al Capone to a car speed offender.

You assume that I am unable to recognize the crimes of western leaders simply because you are unable to do so with Vlad

If you are really able to recognize the Western crimes then I hope you also understand that a murderer may not be a judge.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

But if Navalny was poisoned by bored foreign intelligence

Not bored. To the contrary - very alert and active. Putin "failed to commit another crime" - he did not send his troops to Belorussia, what the West (and some posters here) were eagerly expecting. The Belorussian pro-Western coup fizzled. To deflect from this failure and to keep the degree of anti-Russian hysteria high the "Putin's crimes" department came out with another brilliant idea.

Putin should have no problem in deducing and proving that, right?

Let's wait for results of the investigation.

Skirpal lived, and the hapless GRU colonels who allowed themselves to be identified seem to have disappeared

Wrong. First, the British still did not produce any actual evidence of Skripal's poisoning. Scotland Yard clearly distanced itself from fiery speeches of Theresa Mayday-Mayday. Second, the both guys that MSM declared "GRU colonels, disappeared by Putin" soon appeared live and well on RT. They are ready to testify, but UK is not interested in it. I wonder why.

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

Sad to read Asakaze comments defending regime crimes

That’s odd, I don’t recall him saying anything about NATO.

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

‘business’ as usual...

you can very easily compare this one with many other incidents from history or our days.

but it’s system specific, not russian specific, to keep it ‘fair’.

-14 ( +1 / -15 )

@ClippetyClop

is that any reason to believe that this was ordered by Vlad?

Who needs facts? Proof, facts, logic - it's so-o-o boring! "Highly likely" is the king for true Putin-did-it cult followers.

@Joeintokyo

Navalny polls at 1-2%. Quite the opposition

Exactly. Navalny has big noisy mouth, but no serious support. He presents no threat to Putin.

There is a more logical explanation of what happened. Western intelligence services decided to make a martyr of anti-Putin fight from their agent who outlived his usefulness. Since the talentless Skripal show failed miserably, these crafty guys from the "Putin's crimes" department devised a more clever plan.

-15 ( +0 / -15 )

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