Navalny demands Russian authorities return his clothes as "crucial evidence"

(Patria) – Russian opposition leader and Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has demanded that Russian authorities return his clothes from when he fell ill last month, accusing them of withholding crucial evidence in his case.

Navalny told reporters that his clothes were confiscated before he traveled to Germany, where he was treated for poisoning.

German authorities announced last week that three European laboratories, including their own, had confirmed that Navalny was poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok.

Western countries have demanded an explanation from Russia, which claims it still lacks evidence of a crime, which is necessary to open an investigation, while the Kremlin denies any involvement. Russian authorities are also demanding that Germany hand over Navalny's medical records, which they consider key to the investigation.

- Before they allowed me to be transferred to Germany, they stripped me naked and took all my clothes, Navalny wrote on his blog, adding that "since Novichok was found on my body, and infection through contact is very likely, my clothes are a very crucial piece of evidence.".

He demanded that his clothes be "carefully packed in a plastic bag and returned.".

A member of Navalny's team, Ivan Zhdanov, told reporters that the Russian transport police had summoned his spokeswoman and other team members for questioning – for the purpose of a pre-investigation hearing.

Zhdanov claims they will not respond to the summons, and that the one-month deadline for the police to decide whether to launch an investigation has already passed.