"We call for international inquiry". Poland condemns poisoning of Navalny

"Poland's position is clear. We believe that an explanation of the case and punishment of the guilty is necessary. We call for an international investigation," PAP quoted Przydacz as saying.

He added that "a serious debate on human rights situation in Russia" would also be needed. "For many years Poland has been consistently pointing out this problem, especially urging the EU to step up efforts to address this issue. We believe that in relations with Russia, the issue of human rights should come before discussing any cooperation, be it political or economic," Przydacz told PAP.

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who is in intensive care in a Berlin hospital, was poisoned with a Soviet-style Novichok nerve agent in an attempt to murder him, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday.

She said Berlin now expected Moscow to explain itself and that Germany would consult its NATO allies about how to respond, raising the prospect of new Western sanctions on Russia, sending Russian asset prices tumbling.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg tweeted on Wednesday: "Germany announced Alexey Navalny was victim of a Novichok attack. I utterly condemn the use of a military-grade nerve agent, which makes it even more urgent that Russia conducts full & transparent investigation. We’ll consult with Germany & all NATO Allies on the implications."

Moscow has denied involvement in the incident and the Russian foreign ministry said Germany's assertion was not backed by evidence, complaining about the way Germany had chosen to release information about Navalny.

"This is disturbing information about the attempted murder through poisoning against a leading Russian opposition figure," Merkel told a news conference. "Alexei Navalny was the victim of an attack with a chemical nerve agent of the Novichok group."

Novichok is the same substance that Britain said was used against a Russian double agent and his daughter in an attack in England in 2018. The deadly group of nerve agents was developed by the Soviet military in the 1970s and 1980s.

Navalny, 44, is an outspoken opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has specialised in high-impact investigations into official corruption. He was airlifted to Germany last month after collapsing on a domestic Russian flight after drinking a cup of tea that his allies said was poisoned.

The White House said the use of Novichok was "completely reprehensible," with the U.S. National Security Council saying on Twitter that Washington would work with allies "to hold those in Russia accountable, wherever the evidence leads, and restrict funds for their malign activities."

A U.S. government source familiar with U.S. intelligence reporting and analysis said the use of the Novichok family of nerve agents showed Putin was willing to be "bold" in targeting individuals he found threatening or irritating.

He described the attack as an assertion by the Russian leader that he is the boss and what he says goes.

The Kremlin, which has rejected any suggestion that it or the Russian state was involved, said it wanted a full exchange of information and that Germany and Russia should cooperate. But it added it was unable yet to give a proper statement about the German findings.

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the foreign ministry, told state TV that the German move looked like another fact-free information campaign against Russia.

Russian authorities and doctors have said previously they could find no evidence Navalny was poisoned.

Russia is already under Western sanctions after its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine six years ago. Another standoff with European nations or the United States may further hurt its economy further.

Britain and France joined in condemning the use of Novichok, along with the European Union, which said those responsible must be brought to justice.

"I wish to condemn in the strongest possible terms the shocking and irresponsible use of such an agent", Le Drian said in a statement.

"It’s outrageous that a chemical weapon was used," Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Twitter. "The Russian government must now explain what happened to Mr Navalny – we will work with international partners to ensure justice is done."

"The use of chemical weapons under any circumstances is completely unacceptable and a breach of international law," the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said in a statement.

The head of the EU executive Ursula von der Leyen wrote on Twitter: "I was informed by Chancellor Merkel that Russian opposition leader Navalny was attacked with a nerve agent, in his own country. This is a despicable and cowardly act - once again. Perpetrators need to be brought to justice".