The German government said Monday that laboratories in France and Sweden have confirmed its own findings that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a statement that Germany had asked France and Sweden "for an independent review of the German evidence (of Novichok poisoning) on the basis of new samples from Mr Navalny," who is receiving treatment in Berlin.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/the-curious-case-of-russian-kremlin-critics-who-were-allegedly-poisoned-321943">The curious case of Russian Kremlin critics who were allegedly poisoned</a>

"The results of this review at specialised laboratories in France and Sweden are now available and confirm the German evidence (of Novichok poisoning)," Seibert said.

"We renew the call for Russia to explain itself on the events. We are in close contact with our European partners on further steps," he added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-approves-russian-request-to-assist-in-navalny-probe-326877">Germany approves Russian request to assist in Navalny probe</a>

The poisoning has brought tensions between Russia and Germany to new heights, fuelling calls for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a Kremlin flagship project to bring Russian gas direct to Germany under the Baltic Sea, to be scrapped.

Earlier,&nbsp;Berlin prosecutors had said it would investigate the&nbsp;Navalny case&nbsp;for suspected poisoning, and hand information to Moscow,&nbsp;if he agreed.

Moscow has insisted it has seen no evidence he was poisoned and earlier on Friday said it would ask to send investigators to Berlin in response to the German demands.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/political-awakening-after-navalny-poisoning-case-incident-sees-a-change-in-local-politics-326737/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The prosecutor's office in the German capital said it had been commissioned by the regional justice department "to provide legal assistance over the Russian request for legal assistance and to obtain information on the state of health of A.&nbsp;Navalny&nbsp;- subject to his consent".

Navalny, President Vladimir Putin's highest-profile critic, was flown to Germany last month after falling violently ill while travelling in Siberia. He is very unlikely to agree to Germany sharing information with the Russian government, which his supporters have accused of attempted murder.

The transport department of Russia's interior ministry in Siberia said it wanted to send investigators to work alongside German colleagues on the case, after reports that&nbsp;Navalny&nbsp;had emerged from a coma.

"This request will include an application for the possible presence of Russian internal affairs investigators ... and a Russian specialist when German colleagues are conducting investigations with&nbsp;Navalny, doctors and experts," the ministry said in a statement.

Russia has not opened a criminal investigation and is sticking to its position that it would first need hard evidence from Germany that&nbsp;Navalny&nbsp;was poisoned. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that German accusations over the case were "groundless".

The German government said Monday that laboratories in France and Sweden have confirmed its own findings that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent.

The German government said Monday that laboratories in France and Sweden have confirmed its own findings that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent. Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a statement that Germany had asked France and Sweden "for an independent review of the German evidence (of Novichok poisoning) on the basis of new samples from Mr Navalny," who is receiving treatment in Berlin. Also see: The curious case of Russian Kremlin critics who were allegedly poisoned "The results of this review at specialised laboratories in France and Sweden are now available and confirm the German evidence (of Novichok poisoning)," Seibert said. "We renew the call for Russia to explain itself on the events. We are in close contact with our European partners on further steps," he added. Also read: Germany approves Russian request to assist in Navalny probe The poisoning has brought tensions between Russia and Germany to new heights, fuelling calls for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a Kremlin flagship project to bring Russian gas direct to Germany under the Baltic Sea, to be scrapped. Earlier, Berlin prosecutors had said it would investigate the Navalny case for suspected poisoning, and hand information to Moscow, if he agreed. Moscow has insisted it has seen no evidence he was poisoned and earlier on Friday said it would ask to send investigators to Berlin in response to the German demands. The prosecutor's office in the German capital said it had been commissioned by the regional justice department "to provide legal assistance over the Russian request for legal assistance and to obtain information on the state of health of A. Navalny - subject to his consent". Navalny, President Vladimir Putin's highest-profile critic, was flown to Germany last month after falling violently ill while travelling in Siberia. He is very unlikely to agree to Germany sharing information with the Russian government, which his supporters have accused of attempted murder. The transport department of Russia's interior ministry in Siberia said it wanted to send investigators to work alongside German colleagues on the case, after reports that Navalny had emerged from a coma. "This request will include an application for the possible presence of Russian internal affairs investigators ... and a Russian specialist when German colleagues are conducting investigations with Navalny, doctors and experts," the ministry said in a statement. Russia has not opened a criminal investigation and is sticking to its position that it would first need hard evidence from Germany that Navalny was poisoned. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that German accusations over the case were "groundless".

Germany says France, Sweden confirm Novichok poisoning in Navalny case

Russia's foreign minister criticized Germany on Wednesday over its handling of official requests by Moscow about the condition of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

Navalny, an opponent of President Vladimir Putin, is being treated in a Berlin hospital where he was taken after falling ill on a Russian domestic flight.

Germany says he was poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok. Russia has said it has seen no evidence he was poisoned.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-and-russia-refuse-to-budge-on-stance-over-navalny-poisoning-325755">Germany and Russia refuse to budge on stance over Navalny poisoning</a>

"We have gathered a lot of questions for our German colleagues on the completely inappropriate attitude towards official requests we send to Berlin," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a news conference.

Germany's ambassador to Moscow was due to visit the foreign ministry later on Wednesday.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/germany-puts-pressure-on-russia-regarding-nord-stream-2-326153/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Lavrov added that Russia was dissatisfied with the "absolutely unacceptable tone" in which he said Germany was communicating its position to the global community.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday Russia needs to see the analysis that indicates Navalny was poisoned before it can open an investigation.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/the-curious-case-of-russian-kremlin-critics-who-were-allegedly-poisoned-321943">The curious case of Russian Kremlin critics who were allegedly poisoned</a>

A spokesman for German&nbsp;Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday said the country&nbsp;will not rule out consequences for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project if Russia fails to thoroughly investigate the incident.

Asked whether Merkel would protect the multi-billion-euro pipeline from Russia to Europe if Germany were to seek sanctions over the Navalny case, spokesman Steffen Seibert said: "The chancellor believes it would be wrong to rule anything out from the start."

Nord Stream 2, an $11-billion&nbsp;pipeline near completion beneath the Baltic Sea, is set to double Russian natural-gas shipments to Germany, Europe's largest economy.

It has long been in the crosshairs of the United States, which has criticised European countries for their reliance on energy from Russia.

Russia's foreign minister criticized Germany on Wednesday over its handling of official requests by Moscow about the condition of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Navalny, an opponent of President Vladimir Putin, is being treated in a Berlin hospital where he was taken after falling ill on a Russian domestic flight.

Russia's foreign minister criticized Germany on Wednesday over its handling of official requests by Moscow about the condition of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Navalny, an opponent of President Vladimir Putin, is being treated in a Berlin hospital where he was taken after falling ill on a Russian domestic flight. Germany says he was poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok. Russia has said it has seen no evidence he was poisoned. Also read: Germany and Russia refuse to budge on stance over Navalny poisoning "We have gathered a lot of questions for our German colleagues on the completely inappropriate attitude towards official requests we send to Berlin," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a news conference. Germany's ambassador to Moscow was due to visit the foreign ministry later on Wednesday. Lavrov added that Russia was dissatisfied with the "absolutely unacceptable tone" in which he said Germany was communicating its position to the global community. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday Russia needs to see the analysis that indicates Navalny was poisoned before it can open an investigation. Also see: The curious case of Russian Kremlin critics who were allegedly poisoned A spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday said the country will not rule out consequences for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project if Russia fails to thoroughly investigate the incident. Asked whether Merkel would protect the multi-billion-euro pipeline from Russia to Europe if Germany were to seek sanctions over the Navalny case, spokesman Steffen Seibert said: "The chancellor believes it would be wrong to rule anything out from the start." Nord Stream 2, an $11-billion pipeline near completion beneath the Baltic Sea, is set to double Russian natural-gas shipments to Germany, Europe's largest economy. It has long been in the crosshairs of the United States, which has criticised European countries for their reliance on energy from Russia.

Russia calls Germany's handling of requests on Navalny 'inappropriate'

The Group of Seven foreign ministers on Tuesday condemned the “confirmed poisoning” of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny in the strongest terms and asked for the transparency over the issue.

G7 condemns confirmed poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny

G7 nations calls for Russia to establish trasparency over Navalny's poisoning case

Alexei Navalny's poisoning may kill a major deal. Germany is threatening Russia to put a hold on Nord Stream 2, a twin gas pipeline from Russia to Germany which is now 90% complete & things hang in a balance for now.

Germany puts pressure on Russia regarding Nord Stream 2

The Kremlin-linked businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin has vowed to ruin Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who is in a coma in a Berlin hospital.

Kremlin linked tycoon Prigozhin vows to ruin Navalny