Accessibility links

Breaking News

Hospital Confirms Thallium Poisoning Of Two U.S. Women


(RFE/RL) March 10, 2007 -- A hospital in Los Angeles, California, says toxicology tests have confirmed that two Soviet-born American women who recently fell ill in Russia have been poisoned by thallium.


Cedars-Sinai Medical Center said in a statement that Marina Kovalevsky, 49, and her daughter, Yana, 26, were continuing to receive treatment at the hospital for their sickness.


The statement said the women were expected to remain hospitalized over the weekend. They were earlier said to be in stable condition.


An attorney for the women, Frank Capwell, said the two believed their poisoning may have been accidental, and that they did not remember anything unusual that would lead them to believe they were intentionally targeted in Russia.


Russian and U.S. authorities say they are investigating how the women, who returned to Los Angeles this week, fell ill late last month during a visit to Moscow. It remains unclear how they may have come into contact with thallium.


(compiled from agency reports)

RFE/RL Russia Report

RFE/RL Russia Report


SUBSCRIBE For news and analysis on Russia by e-mail, subscribe to "RFE/RL Russia Report."

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG