Alexei Navalny, a leading member of Russia’s opposition, was poisoned using a nerve agent known as 'Novichok’ said Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday.

Speaking to press, Chancellor Merkel said Germany had unequivocal proof that Mr Navalny was the victim of a poisoning attack using the Novichok nerve agent.

The Chancellor condemned the apparent attack and called on Russia to answer for the poisoning. The Russian government, however, has denied any involvement.

Mr Navalny is being treated at the Charite hospital in Berlin after being airlifted in from Russia mid-last month. In Russia, Navalny is known as one of President Putin’s most outspoken critics and an ardent anti-corruption campaigner.

The discovery of the Novichok nerve agent echos the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, another Russian oppositionist, two years ago.

In 2018, Sergei, as well as his daughter Julia, were targeted with Novichok in a similar attack taking place in Salisbury, England. The UK went on to accuse Russian intelligence agencies of being behind that attack.

In Belarus, a prominent critic of that country’s government has announced he has fled the country for Poland amid ongoing crackdowns against anti-government protests.

Pavel Latushko, a former culture minister and head of the Belarus state drama theatre, sided with the opposition as demonstrations and unrest broke out in the country last month.

Latushko yesterday confirmed to Belarusian newspaper Nasha Niva that he had arrived in Poland.

The Pope has become the latest to pay tribute to Poland’s Solidarity trade union as the movement marks 40 years since its founding.

Speaking yesterday at the Vatican, Pope Francis remarked on the importance of the August Agreements signed in Gdansk and Szczecin in 1980 and the impact of the Solidarity movement which emerged in their wake.

The leader of the Catholic Church added that the spirit of Solidarity would be needed once again as the world endured the coronavirus pandemic.

Pope Francis’s predecessor, the Polish Pope John Paul II was an important supporter of the Solidarity movement during the 1980s as it fought against communism in Poland and throughout Europe.

A man has been arrested in Pomerania after nearly eight years on the run.

The unnamed man, wanted on three separate arrest warrants issued by courts in Gdynia and Wejherowo, was finally apprehended in the town of Puck, north of Gdynia, on Monday.

Police say the 40-year-old man had fled the country eight years ago in an attempt to escape justice, but recently returned to Poland. Police say the man was surprised to see officers when they finally caught up to him in the picturesque seaside town of Puck.

The man is now expected to serve at least four years in prison.

Weather

An overcast and cool picture going into this afternoon. A chance of some showers over the rest of the day but clearing up somewhat in the evening.

Highs today of 18C, 64F, and overnight lows of 13C, thats 56F.

Much the same story going into Friday, but with temperatures picking up into the 20sC.

RGEN/Thomas Holdstock/pb