Russian ambassador to the UK summoned to Foreign Office over Navalny poisoning

The Government has increased the pressure on Moscow to explain the circumstances around the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny by summoning the Russian ambassador to the UK to the Foreign Office over the suspected Novichok attack.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Britain was registering its “deep concern” about the alleged use of the nerve agent by summoning Andrei Kelin to speak with a senior official on Monday and called for Russia to carry out a “full, transparent investigation”.

Mr Raab has said it is “difficult to come up with a plausible alternative” to Moscow being behind the poisoning of the vocal critic of Russian president Vladimir Putin.

The diplomat’s summoning came as Mr Navalny was brought out of a coma by doctors in Berlin, where the 44-year-old has been treated since falling ill on a domestic flight in Russia on August 20.

Mr Raab tweeted: “Today the UK summoned Russia’s Ambassador to the UK to register deep concern about the poisoning of Alexei @Navalny.

“It’s completely unacceptable that a banned chemical weapon has been used and Russia must hold a full, transparent investigation.

“Relieved to hear that Alexei Navalny has been taken out of the medically induced coma.

“I hope his condition continues to improve.”