Alexei Navalny in ‘critical’ situation after possible poisoning, says ally

Russian opposition leader said to have had severe stomach pains, with ambulance being called to penal colony

Alexei Navalny, Russia's most prominent opposition politician, has been grappling with severe stomach pain in jail that could be a result of slow-acting poison, a close ally said on Friday.

Ruslan Shaveddinov said that an ambulance was called for Navalny last week to the maximum security IK-6 penal colony at Melekhovo, about 250km (115 miles) east of Moscow, where he is being held.