Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who Germany says was poisoned by a weapons-grade Novichok nerve agent, is now out of a medically induced coma and is being weaned off mechanical ventilation, the Berlin hospital treating him has said.
"He is responding to verbal stimuli," Charite hospital said in a statement, reporting that the 44-year-old's condition "has improved".
Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said: "Today he was taken out of an artificial coma.
"Gradually he will be disconnected from the ventilator. He responds to speech and calls to him."
![Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny. Photo / AP](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/ZAE3OM4PG64OGV5FGWB4OBTKOM.jpg?auth=48b1a5e6bb70da2fc5dca25013a042062c885dcb34c82ad3a2e27baf2a5d9edb&width=16&height=12&quality=70&smart=true)