BERLIN: Renowned Russian journalist and dissident, Elena Kostyuchenko, has disclosed a harrowing incident from last autumn when her train journey to Berlin took a shocking turn, leading German authorities to reopen an investigation into a suspected poisoning attempt.
At that time, Kostyuchenko was residing in Berlin, having sought exile due to credible threats from Russian sources indicating an assassination plot against her. She had embarked on a trip to Munich to secure a Ukrainian visa, a journey that would play a pivotal role in the events that followed. As she recounted in a recent piece for the Russian publication Meduza, Kostyuchenko found herself suddenly overwhelmed by a combination of peculiar symptoms, including drenching sweats with an unusual odour and cognitive impairments. This unsettling episode marked the onset of a prolonged and perplexing illness, from which she has not yet fully recovered.
Initially, German authorities investigated the incident as a suspected poisoning, but the case was closed in May due to insufficient evidence. However, in light of new considerations, the investigation has been reopened, and the Berlin prosecutor’s office is now treating the case as an attempted murder, as confirmed by German public prosecutor spokesman Sebastian Büchner in an interview with CNN.
Kostyuchenko’s background as a seasoned journalist adds another layer of intrigue to the situation. She had dedicated 17 years to working for the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta. Her connection with Ukraine grew significant when she was dispatched to report on the conflict as it erupted. In March 2022, a source within Ukrainian military reconnaissance tipped her off about Russia’s sinister intentions to eliminate her. Consequently, Kostyuchenko was forced to swiftly depart Ukraine, with no possibility of returning to her homeland.
Fleeing to Germany, she established herself in Berlin and commenced work with Meduza on September 29th. Her commitment to journalism was undeterred, even as she faced the personal threats that had driven her into exile. As part of her work, she agreed to undertake a reporting assignment in Iran for the publication, which required her to secure a Ukrainian visa through a visit to the consulate in Munich.
Kostyuchenko’s narrative of the distressing ordeal unfolds in an article shared on Meduza and the US publication n+1. On October 18, 2022, her journey took an alarming turn when she began to experience profuse sweating and cognitive difficulties after leaving the Ukrainian embassy. The sweat was accompanied by a distinctly unpleasant odour, likened to the scent of decaying fruit.
As the train continued, she noticed her cognitive faculties deteriorating as she attempted to engage with her manuscript. Despite her best efforts, she found herself repeatedly stuck on the same paragraph, hindered by an intensifying headache. Upon disembarking, the confusion deepened as she struggled to remember the route to her apartment.
Kostyuchenko’s unwavering commitment to her craft and her courage in the face of personal threats shine through this account of her ordeal. As the investigation into the incident gains renewed momentum, it underscores the challenges faced by journalists like her who dare to expose uncomfortable truths and the risks they encounter in pursuit of their mission.
