Kremlin spokesman promises to help transfer Navalny abroad for treatment (if requested), says opposition politician’s possible poisoning isn’t worth a special presidential briefing

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Thursday that he is monitoring reports about anti-corruption activist Alexey Navalny’s hospitalization and wishes him a speedy recovery, “as he would for any Russian citizen.” Vladimir Putin’s press secretary also promised to help transfer Navalny to a hospital abroad, if such a request is made.

Peskov confirmed that the Kremlin is aware of Navalny’s hospitalization in Omsk and stated that the best doctors are handling his case and doing everything necessary to help him. 

According to Peskov, the president has not received a special briefing on Navalny’s hospitalization, but such information is included in the press reports regularly prepared for him.

Peskov also announced that state investigators will examine information that Navalny may have been poisoned if his test results suggest foul play.

On August 20, opposition politician Alexey Navalny was hospitalized at an intensive care unit in Omsk after becoming violently ill aboard a plane returning from Siberia, where he spent several days in Novosibirsk and Tomsk.