DISINFO: Navalny was not poisoned with Novichok
SUMMARY
There is no proof Navalny was poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative on Navalny poisoning. The German Clinic where Navalny is being treated stated that he was poisoned with “a substance from the group of cholinesterase inhibitors” on 24 August. A specialist Bundeswehr laboratory specified there was “unequivocal proof” that it was “a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok group”. This was announced by the Spokesperson of the Federal Government on 2 September. On 14 September, specialist laboratories in France and Sweden independently confirmed that Navalny had been poisoned with Novichok. The use of multiple and simultaneous versions about an event involving questionable actions by the Russian government or its allies, in order to confound citizens about the actual truth, is a recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation strategy, already seen in the cases of the MH17 downing, the illegal annexation of Crimea, the murder attempt against Sergei and Yulia Skripal or chemical attacks in Syria.