Trump: U.S. has seen 'no proof yet' of Navalny poisoning

U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions during a news conference at the White House in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2020. /Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that he had not yet seen proof that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny had been poisoned as stated by Germany.

"I don't know exactly what happened. I think it's tragic, it's terrible, it shouldn't happen," Trump said. "We haven't had any proof yet, but I will take a look at it," Trump said in a press conference.

Trump said he had heard that Germany had made a finding that Navalny, who fell ill on a Siberian flight last month, had been poisoned with the deadly Novichok nerve agent. Navalny is currently in intensive care in a Berlin hospital.

"We have not seen it ourselves," he said.

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny takes part in a rally in Moscow, Russia, February 29, 2020. /Reuters

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday that Moscow has nothing to hide in Navalny's case, accusing Germany of refusing to provide necessary information.

Following a virtual meeting of BRICS foreign ministers, Lavrov said Navalny was given immediate help and medical care in Russia after feeling unwell.

However, the German Foreign Ministry hinders providing documents confirming presence of toxins in Navalny's tests that Russia asked for, he said at a press conference.

"I am forced to say out loud that, according to our information, this response is delayed due to the position of the German Foreign Ministry," he added.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (top L) attends a virtual meeting of BRICS foreign ministers, September 4, 2020. /Chinese Foreign Ministry

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that the alleged poisoning of Navalny should be treated with caution.

"In this case, we rely on facts, act consistently and carefully. We also urge everyone else to rely on facts," Peskov told a daily briefing.

The spokesperson said he expected German specialists to provide information about the poisoning to the Russian Interior Ministry, which is now conducting a pre-investigation check.

An investigation into the case will be opened if there is confirmation of the presence of a poisonous substance, he added.

On Thursday, Russian State Duma lower parliament house speaker Vyacheslav Volodin called the alleged poisoning Navalny a "planned action" against Russia aimed to impose new sanctions and restrain its development.

(With input from AFP, Xinhua)