Russian opposition leader in hospital after suspected poisoning

[brucejoel99]

This obviously isn't a coincidence, given that Putin is currently watching a fellow geriatric dictator in a neighboring country come under pressure from mass protests. Putin fears that if Lukashenko falls (not saying it'll happen, but it's plausible enough for Putin to worry about), then protests will spread to Russia. Putin is more scared of his own people than anybody else.

[brucejoel99]

Breaking: Nawalny will be moved to Berlin for treatment in the Charite Hospital, German news sources report. A plane will head off to Russia this night already.

As of this morning via AP, doctors in Omsk aren’t approving his transfer for “medical reasons.” They’re also claiming that he is suffering from a metabolic disorder rather than poisoning. Navalny’s allies are charging that the delay in release is motivated by a desire to wait until poison leaves his system before transferring.

Not sure about anybody else, but I don't think people start screaming in pain when they've got low blood sugar.

[brucejoel99]

After the some back and forth, his transfer to Berlin seems finally approved.

Either they're confident no traces of the toxic agent will be found, or he's a dead man walking & they're not concerned about doctors being able to save him.

[brucejoel99]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-europe-53892900

Breaking news: German doctors have found evidence that Navalny was poisoned. In other news, water is wet.

Guess the Russians didn't keep him long enough for the poison to dissipate.

[brucejoel99]

Navalny is still in coma. I'm afraid even if he escapes death, he will be permanently severely damaged.

Fingers crossed that the worst is preventable/undoable.