The Insider reported that an official Russian investigation into the death of Alexei Navalny was redacted to remove any indications of possible poisoning. The documents obtained by The Insider revealed that Navalny had experienced symptoms such as sharp abdominal pain, convulsions, vomiting, and loss of consciousness before his death at an Arctic penal colony in February. Navalny’s widow received a redacted letter from Russian investigators claiming no signs of foul play were found in his death, attributing it to a range of illnesses. However, the unredacted version of the letter suggested that the symptoms Navalny experienced were consistent with poisoning rather than natural causes.
The unredacted report included details that strongly indicated poisoning, according to Alexander Polupan, a doctor who treated Navalny after his 2020 poisoning with the nerve agent Novichok. The symptoms such as abdominal pain and vomiting pointed to a possible exposure to an organophosphorus agent, which is a highly poisonous chemical that affects the nervous system. Navalny himself had released a video in which an alleged FSB security agent admitted to applying Novichok on his underwear during the 2020 poisoning, though the Kremlin denied any involvement. The documents obtained also listed items collected from the scene of Navalny’s death, including samples of vomit for examination, which were not mentioned in the publicly available report.
It is unclear who may have redacted the documents or at what stage the alterations were made. The Moscow Times could not independently verify the authenticity of the unredacted report. However, prosecutors in the Yamal-Nenets autonomous district, where Navalny was held, recently overturned a refusal to investigate his death and instructed investigators to continue their probe. The discrepancies between the redacted and unredacted versions of the investigation raise questions about the transparency and integrity of the official investigation into Navalny’s death. The attempt to downplay potential signs of poisoning in the redacted report has sparked further concerns and calls for a thorough and unbiased investigation into the circumstances surrounding Navalny’s death.
The unredacted details of Navalny’s symptoms and the items collected from the scene of his death point to a possible poisoning rather than a natural cause of death. The patterns observed by the doctor who treated Navalny after the 2020 poisoning strongly suggest exposure to a toxic chemical, possibly an organophosphorus agent. The fact that such crucial information was omitted from the official report raises suspicions about the transparency and credibility of the investigation. The public outcry over the redacted report and the call for a more thorough investigation to uncover the truth behind Navalny’s death reflect the deep concerns about the handling of the case and the possible political motivations behind the attempt to conceal signs of foul play.
The redacted letter received by Navalny’s widow and the discrepancies between the publicly available report and the unredacted version raise doubts about the integrity of the official investigation and the commitment to uncovering the truth about Navalny’s death. The involvement of a doctor who treated Navalny after his previous poisoning and the analysis of the symptoms he experienced suggest a possible poisoning scenario that was not adequately addressed in the redacted report. The decision by prosecutors to continue the probe into Navalny’s death indicates a recognition of the need for a more comprehensive investigation, but questions remain about the transparency and impartiality of the process. The controversy surrounding the redacted report highlights the challenges of seeking justice in cases involving high-profile political figures and the importance of maintaining transparency and accountability in such investigations.
