A leading critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin was hospitalized with kidney failure one day after releasing a documentary on corruption and human rights abuses in the republic of Chechnya.
Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr., 33, a former ally of slain Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, is unconscious after undergoing treatment for kidney failure. He was admitted to Moscow’s Pirogov 1st City Hospital on May 26, Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty reported Friday.
Mr. Kara-Murza’s wife Yevgenia said her husband shows “symptoms of poisoning” and wants him transported to “to a medical center in Europe or Israel where full toxicology testing and treatment can be done,” RFE/RL reported.
The lead doctor at the hospital, Aleksei Svet, said the activist could not be transported, adding that Mr. Kara-Murza was likely suffering from “severe bout of pancreatitis and, possibly, double-sided pneumonia,” Interfax reported Friday.
Doctors said he may have taken too many antidepressants in the wake of Boris Nemtsov’s death.
Mr. Kara-Murza’s father, Vladimir Sr., shied away from talk of foul play.
“There is no criminal case so far, none has been opened because [my son] is simply a normal patient who arrived at a Moscow hospital by ambulance,” he said, RFE/RL reported.
British diplomats are working to have the hospitalized activist, who works the NGO Open Russia, medically evacuated from Russia, a source told RFE/RL. Mr. Kara-Murza has dual Russian-British citizenship.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.