Alexei Navalny, the outspoken critic of the Russian government, woke up out of a coma on Sept. 7, according to the German hospital in Berlin that treated him. 

On Aug. 20, Navalny became hospitalized after a flight from Moscow, Russia to Serbia. While on the flight, Navalny had been poisoned by Novichok, a deadly nerve agent developed during the Cold War by the Soviet Union.

Originally treated in a hospital in Omsk, Russia, by Aug. 22 Navalny moved to Berlin for further treatment. 

Navalny’s political team has aimed a large amount of suspicion towards the Russian government regarding the attack due to the usage of the Soviet poison and his frequent outspoken condemnation of the Russian government. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel has also asked for further answers from Russia as to how the poisoning had occurred.

The Russian government has stated it will open an investigation into the matter once more information is found.

Navalny became a common face in Russian politics in recent years. He attempted to run for the presidency in 2018 against incumbent Vladmir Putin, a race that ended with his banning from running on account of his charge of embezzlement by a Russian court, an accusation which he denies. Navalny has also been arrested by the Russian government multiple times in 2017 and in 2018 for organizing anti-Putin protests.

Navalny has a following on social media platforms such as a LiveJournal blog,  a “Youtube” channel with over 4,000,000 subscribers and a “Twitter” following of around 2,200,000.

Doctors at the Navalny’s hospital currently say they are unsure of the long term effects of this incident, but that he is improving steadily.