Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent, Germany’s government says, writes BBC.

Toxicology tests had shown “unequivocal proof” of a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok group, it said.

Navalny was airlifted to Berlin for treatment after falling ill during a flight in Russia"s Siberia region last month. He has been in a coma since.

The German government said it condemned the attack in the strongest terms and called for Russia urgently to provide an explanation: “It is a disturbing development that Alexei Navalny was the victim of a chemical nerve agent in Russia”.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has met senior ministers to discuss next steps, the statement said.