Navalny poisoningGerman Docs Identify Poison Used in Attempt on Russian Opposition Leader
Initial findings by physicians and scientists at the Berlin Charité hospital, where Russia’s opposition leader Alexey Nvalny was transferred late Sunday, indicate that he was poisoned. The hospital spokesperson told reporters on Monday (24 August) that the first clinical investigations indicated that the substance Russian agents used in their attempt to kill Navalny belong to a group of active substances called cholinesterase inhibitors. In minute quantities, cholinesterase inhibitors, also known as anti-cholinesterase, are used as drugs for Alzheimer’s and myasthenia gravis, but can be lethal in larger quantities and can be sued as insecticides and chemical weapons.
Initial findings by physicians and scientists at the Berlin Charité hospital, where Russia’s opposition leader Alexey Nvalny was transferred late Sunday, indicate that he was poisoned. The doctors who made the announcement said that after twenty-four hours of intensive care treatment, his conditions is serious but that he is not in acute danger.
The spokesperson for Berlin Charité said that in a day or two, after more tests are run, the hospital will provide more details about the poison used and the quantities ingested by Navalny.
Earlier Monday, the German government announced that it was placing Navalny under tight security to prevent another attempt on his life.
The spokesperson told reporters on Monday (24 August) that the specific substance Russian agents used in their attempt to kill Navalny is not yet known. The first clinical investigations, however, indicated a substance from the group of active substances called cholinesterase inhibitors. Navalny is now being treated with the antidote atropine.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports that cholinesterase inhibitors, also known as anti-cholinesterase, are chemicals which prevent the breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine or butyrylcholine. This increases the amount of the acetylcholine or butyrylcholine in the synaptic cleft that can bind to muscarinic receptors, nicotinic receptors, and others. This group of inhibitors are divided into two subgroups, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors.
The inhibitors, in minute quantities, are used as drugs for Alzheimer’s and myasthenia gravis, but can be lethal in larger quantities and can be sued as insecticides and chemical weapons. Even in small quantities, when used as drugs, many patients suffer side effects such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, vivid dreams at night, dehydration, rash, bradycardia, peptic ulcer disease, seizures, weight loss, and muscle cramps, fasciculations.
Victims who survive an attack by cholinesterase inhibitors may suffer long-term damage to their nervous system, but such effects vary from patient to patient.
