Berlin hospital: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s condition has improved, he can briefly leave bed

BERLIN (AP) – Doctors treating Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny say his condition has improved, and he is off a ventilator and able to leave his bed briefly at the Charite hospital in Berlin. The German government also said special labs in France and Sweden have confirmed the 44-year-old Navalny was poisoned with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok. The most prominent opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin fell ill on a Russian domestic flight on Aug. 20. He later was transferred to the German hospital. The Kremlin dismissed what it called “unfounded accusations” against Russia over the case. The news about his condition came as his associates made gains in regional elections across Russia on Sunday.