Russia: No sign criminal act caused Alexei Navalny illness

Alexei Navalny is being treated in a German hospital (Pavel Golovkin/AP)

Russian authorities have found no indication so far that opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s illness, which his allies and German doctors treating him believe may have been brought about by poisoning, was caused by a criminal act.

A preliminary inquiry launched last week has not found any indication of “deliberate criminal acts committed against” Mr Navalny, Russia’s Prosecutor General’s office said on Thursday.