RUSSIA/IRELAND:Hypertension, not a mysterious poisoning, may have caused the sudden illness of former Russian prime minister Yegor Gaidar in Dublin last week, his mother suggested yesterday.
In an interview Ariana Gaidar said her son, who has diabetes, was very tired when he travelled to Ireland last week.
Her comments differ from those of his daughter, Maria, who claimed that since Russian doctors could not discover the cause of Dr Gaidar's illness, they would say he must have been poisoned.
Ms Gaidar, a political activist in Russia, was arrested at a protest rally on the day Dr Gaidar travelled to Ireland. It is believed he was very concerned about her welfare at the time. There was still no official word from Dr Gaidar's doctors last night. His spokesman confirmed he was making a good recovery.
After being treated overnight in a Dublin last week, Dr Gaidar flew back to Moscow. It was on his return that allegations were raised by another Russian political figure, Anatoly Chubais, that Mr Gaidar was poisoned in Ireland.
Ariana Gaidar said she was very shocked to learn that her son might have been poisoned. Her family had avoided telling her for some time, so as not to distress her. But she made it clear she still hoped there could be a different explanation. "I hope that it was hypertension. He was after flying a lot, tired and there were all the pressure changes," she said. "When there will be a final diagnosis, I hope that we will calm down."
Meanwhile in Dublin a Garda investigation into Mr Gaidar's illness is being headed by Chief Supt Philip Kelly, head of the Special Detective Unit. It is understood that the Radiological Protection Institute carried out testing for radioactivity at NUI Maynooth, where Mr Gaidar fell ill, and Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown where he was treated. The results are expected today.
Meanwhile, there were new allegations last night in Russia about the killing of spy Alexander Litvinenko. A prisoner claimed he tried to warn him that Russian intelligence services could make an attempt on his life.
In his letter written from jail, Mikhail Trepashkin said members of the country's security services had formed a death squad to eliminate Mr Litvinenko and other enemies of the Kremlin. He claimed he was approached four years ago to join a group targeting the London-based oligarch in exile, Boris Berezovksy, a benefactor of Mr Litvinenko.