Kremlin-critic Alexei Navalny’s timeline: From poisoning to extremism

Alexei Navalny, the most well-known critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, hit international headlines after his 2020 poisoning by a Soviet-era chemical weapon, after which he slipped into come. Since recovering, he and his case have seen several ups and downs. From returning to Russia, to being incarcerated, to holding a hunger strike over better medical care to his organisation being termed as ‘extremist’.

On Monday, judges postponed the main hearing in the case of designating Navalny’s network and his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) as “extremist” organisations, reported AFP.

Ahead of the next hearing in the case, scheduled for June 9, here’s a timeline of Navalny’s case:

– August 20: Navalny (42) is hospitalised in Omsk, Siberia, after losing consciousness during a flight.

– August 22: Put into a medically induced coma, he is transferred to a Berlin hospital at his family’s request.

– September 2: Germany says that tests carried out by a German army laboratory showed “unequivocal evidence” that the Putin-critic was poisoned with Novichok, a Soviet-era chemical weapon.

– September 3: Kremlin rejects the claim that it was behind the poisoning.

– September 7: Navalny emerges from the coma.

– September 14: French and Swedish labs confirm he was poisoned with Novichok.

– September 14: In a call with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, Putin condemned “unsubstantiated” accusations.

– September 22: Navalny released from the hospital. After that, he accuses Putin of being behind his poisoning.

– October 1: Kremlin accuses the opposition leader of working for the CIA and terms his claim that Putin was behind his poisoning as “groundless and unacceptable statements”.

Navalny in December claims he tricked a security agent into admitting that the Federal Security Service (FSB), Russia’s intelligence agency, orchestrated his poisoning. FSB rejects this. 

Also read: Berlin doctors, who treated Navalny, publish evidence of his poisoning

– January 13: Navalny says he plans to return to Russia despite a threat of jail.

– January 17: He is detained shortly after landing in Moscow.

To coincide with his arrest, Navalny releases a video of his investigation into a lavish Black Sea palace complex he claims is owned by Putin.

It goes viral.

– January 25: Putin rejects owning the Black Sea mansion.

In late January tens of thousands of demonstrators demand Navalny’s release after which police detains thousands.

Also read: Sergey Maximishin, who treated Kremlin-critic Alexei Navalny after poisoning, dead at 55

– February 2:  Navalny is handed a nearly three-year prison term.

– February 5: Russia expels German, Swedish and Polish diplomats for supporting Navalny.

The three countries expel Russian diplomats in return.

– February 17: The European Court of Human Rights orders Russia to release Navalny “with immediate effect”. Moscow accuses it of “interference”.

– February 20: Moscow court dismisses Navalny’s appeal, but reduces the sentence to two-and-a-half years.

Separately he is convicted of defamation and fined 850,000 rubles ($11,475).

– February 22: EU sanctions four senior Russian officials.

– February 26: Navalny is sent to a penal colony in the Vladimir region about 100 kilometres east of Moscow.

– March 2: The US sanctions seven senior Russians.

– March 15: Navalny says he is locked up in a “real concentration camp” and accuses Russian authorities of torture by depriving him of sleep.

– March 31: Navalny announces a hunger strike to demand proper medical treatment.

– April 18: Navalny’s doctors say his condition has rapidly deteriorated and he could “die any minute” of cardiac arrest.

– April 23: Navalny says on Instagram he is halting the strike and thanks his supporters.

– April 30: Russia’s state financial watchdog adds Navalny’s network of regional headquarters to a terrorism watchlist.

Prosecutors have also requested that Navalny’s network and his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) be designated “extremist” organisations.

– May 17: Judges postpone the main hearing in the case for June 9.