Russian Critic of War Allegedly Poisoned, Investigating Suspicion of Toxic Attack

Russian Anti-Government Journalist Claims Poisoning After Criticizing Ukraine Invasion

In a recent incident that raises concerns, a Russian journalist critical of the government's actions during the Ukraine conflict has allegedly fallen victim to a toxic attack. Yelena Kostuchenko, a former reporter for the independent Russian media outlet 'Novaya Gazeta,' came under suspicion after openly criticizing Russia's invasion of Ukraine. She sought refuge in Germany, where she reported experiencing symptoms of poisoning, prompting German authorities to initiate an investigation.

According to The Guardian, on the 17th of last month, Yelena Kostuchenko, who was covering one of the major conflict zones in Ukraine, Mariupol, for 'Novaya Gazeta,' received information suggesting a potential assassination attempt against her. Consequently, she fled to Berlin in March last year. During a visit to Munich on October 17th, she experienced the first symptoms of poisoning, coinciding with her need to obtain a Ukrainian visa in order to continue reporting on the war, as required by the independent Russian media 'Meduza.'

Kostuchenko's health deteriorated rapidly, as reported in her articles for 'Meduza' and the American outlet 'n+1.' She recounted experiencing severe headaches, difficulty breathing, and nausea while aboard a train returning from Munich to Berlin. Furthermore, her face, fingers, and toes began to swell, accompanied by a strong and unusual smell resembling rotten fruit emanating from her sweat.

Ten days after the onset of symptoms, Kostuchenko underwent medical examinations, revealing elevated levels of liver enzymes and the presence of blood in her urine. In response, she raised suspicions of an assassination attempt involving the use of toxic substances.

German authorities have initiated an investigation in connection with these allegations. Reportedly, Kostuchenko was interviewed by German investigators who had previously worked on the case of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a Chechen exile who was assassinated in a Berlin park in 2019.

Despite temporarily halting the investigation in May due to insufficient evidence, German authorities resumed their inquiry two months later. The Berlin prosecutor's office confirmed the resumption, highlighting their pursuit of an unidentified perpetrator.

Kostuchenko's passion for journalism was ignited by the memory of Anna Politkovskaya, a journalist murdered in 2006 while investigating human rights abuses by Russian government forces in Chechnya. Her dedication led her to cover the tragic "Zhanaozen Massacre" in a Kazakh oil town in 2011, where at least 14 protesters lost their lives at the hands of the police.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a nonprofit organization headquartered in New York, has urged German authorities to thoroughly investigate the alleged assassination attempt on Kostuchenko. Similarly, they have called upon Georgian authorities to investigate the suspected attempted assassination of Russian radio journalist Irina Bablyan in the interest of upholding press freedom.