<Anchor> A

poisonous substance was detected in the body of Alexei Navalni, a Russian anti-Putin person in a coma after drinking tea. The German government, which is protecting Navalni, raised the possibility of a poison attack, but the Russians protested that the poison had never been detected.

Reporter Kim A-young reports.

<Reporter> The

Charite Hospital in Berlin, Germany, which is treating Navalni, said that a cholinesterase inhibitor was detected in Navalni's body.

Cholinesterase inhibitors are substances used in nerve agents and insecticides, and can cause paralysis of the respiratory muscles or even stop the heartbeat.

Navalni is admitted to the intensive care unit under the protection of federal agents and police, and is still in a coma, but the hospital says there is no harm to life.

After the hospital's announcement, the German government said it was possible that Navalni had been attacked by poison.

Prime Minister Merkel urged Russia to transparently investigate the case and hold the perpetrators accountable.

However, the Russian health authorities are expected to rebut controversy, saying the result of the toxic substance test conducted before Navalni was negative.

Navalni lost consciousness in an airplane while heading for Moscow from Tomsk in Siberia on the 20th local time, and allegations were raised that he showed symptoms of poisoning after drinking tea at the airport.

Navalni, an anti-Putin figure who has strongly criticized Putin's long-term dictatorship, was suspicious of chemical poisoning last year, and in 2017, he injured his cornea in a brutal attack.