Russian Opposition Leader Has 'Allergic Reaction'

[Lanorth]

Source: Found Here

Russia's most prominent opposition figure, Alexei Navalny, has been taken from jail to a hospital in Moscow.

Officials gave no details of his condition but Mr Navalny's spokeswoman said he had had an allergic reaction with severe facial swelling - something she said he had not experienced before.

A hospital source told Russian media his condition was satisfactory,

An eye doctor who treated Mr Navalny previously is concerned he may have been injured by a chemical substance.

Mr Navalny was jailed for 30 days last week after calling for unauthorised protests, which took place on Saturday.

What do you think on this story? Personally, I think it is rather suspicious, after the Novichok incident(s) and all, as well as Alexander Litvenenko's poisoning. Could it be a similar situation? Or are they telling the truth?

[Ifreann]

I hear polonium allergies can be pretty serious.

[Andsed]

I think it seems a bit suspicious but not impossible I guess.

[US-SSR]

I hear polonium allergies can be pretty serious.

Most people tend to break out in death, yeah. Novichok allergies can do that too.

[Nakena]

How unfortunate.

I am sure this is attributed to the environmental and seasonal situation in Russia and Moscow around this time.

Might as well be remaining residual radioactivty from Chernobyl contributing to such curious coincidence.

[Bread Herbert]

Lots of people are allergic to FSB/GRU poisons.

[The Huskar Social Union]

A L L E R G I C


R E A C T I O N

[LiberNovusAmericae]

I think it is much more likely that the FSB is behind an attempt on his life.

[Tinhampton]

[INSERT VIGOROUSLY SEMI-SNARKY ANTI-PUTIN REMARK HERE]

[Gormwood]

[INSERT VIGOROUSLY SEMI-SNARKY ANTI-PUTIN REMARK HERE]

Got to take out the full snarky Putin apologism taking up the space first.

[Bread Herbert]

I think it is much more likely that the FSB is behind an attempt on his life.

So, you don't suspect the GRU?

[Mzeusia]

Understandable. I get allergic reactions to challenging Putin's unique interpretation of democracy as well.

I hope he recovers quickly.

[Vivolkha]

I think it is much more likely that the FSB is behind an attempt on his life.

I actually don't think it is a serious attempt on his life considering how prominent and popular he is. It looks more like they poisoned him as an intimidation tactic and a warning to other opposition politicians/activists.

[Chan Island]

Must have met a Salisbury cathedral fan.

[Nakena]

I am rather surprised that Navalny has been tolerated so long. Must have had some protective hand in the Kremlin. No longer it seems.

[Bread Herbert]

I am rather surprised that Navalny has been tolerated so long. Must have had some protective hand in the Kremlin. No longer it seems.

It might have been beneficial for Putin to let him stick around for a while so it would give the illusion that he tolerated opposition.

[Vivolkha]

I am rather surprised that Navalny has been tolerated so long. Must have had some protective hand in the Kremlin. No longer it seems.

To me it seems like a Novaya Gazeta-style situation, in that some open criticism of the regime is permitted in the sense that it is not shut down forever, but it is repeatedly intimidated (through arrests and now apparently poisonings in Navalny's case, through murders of investigative journalists in Novaya Gazeta's).

[Pacomia]

I’m allergic to opposing regimes too.

[Russkiya Svyachena]

Even though I disagree with Navalny on Putin’s policies, I idolized him as an anti-corruption figure here in Russia. I am praying that he’s OK, (and I’m also praying that my VPN works so I don’t see FSB cars outside my door after posting this )

[Vivolkha]

I am rather surprised that Navalny has been tolerated so long. Must have had some protective hand in the Kremlin. No longer it seems.

It might have been beneficial for Putin to let him stick around for a while so it would give the illusion that he tolerated opposition.

Monopolistic control of the political system is no longer a feature of major modern authoritarian regimes (except China). Putin doesn't mind as long as they are pliable, hence "opposition" parties are represented on the Duma (including token liberals) but generally do not rise embarassing questions about the economy, corruption or sanctions.

For non-pliable opposition groups, intimidation is generally more effective than outright elimination or any show of brute force that would paint the regime in a negative light both domestically and abroad. Hence why Putin has resorted to arrests and plausibly deniable poisonings rather than Nemtsov-style murders.

[Alvecia]

Funny how that happens

[Telconi]

It might have been beneficial for Putin to let him stick around for a while so it would give the illusion that he tolerated opposition.

Monopolistic control of the political system is no longer a feature of major modern authoritarian regimes (except China). Putin doesn't mind as long as they are pliable, hence "opposition" parties are represented on the Duma (including token liberals) but generally do not rise embarassing questions about the economy, corruption or sanctions.

For non-pliable opposition groups, intimidation is generally more effective than outright elimination or any show of brute force that would paint the regime in a negative light both domestically and abroad. Hence why Putin has resorted to arrests and plausibly deniable poisonings rather than Nemtsov-style murders.

Even China has 'opposition parties' albiet state sanctioned ones.

[The New California Republic]

Hmm.

[The South Falls]

There's a new medicine called dealing with the opposition. Side effects can include death, death, blue-face, agonizing and painful death, bitter taste after consuming tea, being magically transported to the grave, death with your parents, death, death and finally gastrointestinal irritation.

Only in Russia.

[Pacomia]

Monopolistic control of the political system is no longer a feature of major modern authoritarian regimes (except China). Putin doesn't mind as long as they are pliable, hence "opposition" parties are represented on the Duma (including token liberals) but generally do not rise embarassing questions about the economy, corruption or sanctions.

For non-pliable opposition groups, intimidation is generally more effective than outright elimination or any show of brute force that would paint the regime in a negative light both domestically and abroad. Hence why Putin has resorted to arrests and plausibly deniable poisonings rather than Nemtsov-style murders.

Even China has 'opposition parties' albiet state sanctioned ones.

Wait...

A... state sanctioned opposition party?
I’d love to see that. Probably it’s just an offshoot of the Communist party populated by Xi Jinping’s friends to give the illusion of choice to the Chinese people. I want to see what “opposition” projects they do, and also I wonder what happens to the people who vote for the opposition.