Head of Russian Duma slams Alexei Navalny, says Vladimir Putin saved his life

The head of Russia’s lower house of parliament, Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin on Thursday accused Opposition leader Alexei Navalny of working for Western security services and said President Vladimir Putin had saved his life, reported AFP.

Volodin’s remarks came following 44-year-old Navalny accusing Putin of orchestrating his poisoning in the anti-corruption campaigner’s first published interview since he left the German hospital, where he was treated. Navalny told German weekly Der Spiegel, “I assert that Putin is behind this act, I don’t see any other explanation.”

According to Volodin, Putin had “saved” Navalny’s life after the Opposition figure was poisoned with what Germany says was a Soviet-designed nerve agent called Novichok. He also accused the Kremlin critic of working for Western security services.

In a statement released by the lower house of parliament, Volodin said, “Navalny is a shameless and mean man. “Everyone — from pilots to doctors to the President — were sincerely saving him.”

Referring to Navalny’s claim that Putin was behind the poisoning, Volodin said, “Only a dishonourable man can make such statements.”

He added, “It is absolutely obvious that Navalny is working with the security services and authorities of Western countries.”

Navalny collapsed in August on a flight from Tomsk to Moscow after a campaign trip to support opposition candidates in local elections, following which he was evacuated to Berlin for treatment.

Navalny, who was discharged over a week back, has vowed to return to Russia as soon as he has fully recovered, saying he would not give Putin the pleasure of being in exile.