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PUTIN POISON FEARS

Pussy Riot activist who invaded World Cup final feared POISONED as he suddenly goes ‘blind and paralysed’

Pyotr Verzilov was reportedly taken to hospital in Moscow on Tuesday but medics refused to let his family see him

A PUSSY Riot activist who invaded the World Cup final has been rushed to hospital after "losing his sight and ability to move" - amid fears he was poisoned.

Pyotr Verzilov was taken to Bakhrushin City Clinical Hospital in Moscow on Tuesday, according to a report on Russian news website .

 Pyotr Verzilov, a member of the feminist protest group Pussy Riot speaks during an interview to the Associated Press in Moscow
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Pyotr Verzilov, a member of the feminist protest group Pussy Riot speaks during an interview to the Associated Press in MoscowCredit: AP:Associated Press

His family told the newspaper doctors turned away his mother and refused to say what condition he was in.

Veronika Nikulshina, who was part of the punk collective which stormed the football match in July, said Peter woke up on Tuesday evening "unable to see".

She said: "From eight to ten it became worse... first sight, then the ability to talk, then the ability to walk right.

"When the ambulance arrived, he answered all the questions saying 'no, I did not eat anything, did not take any substance.'

 Pyotr Versilov has reportedly been taken to hospital amid fears he may have been poisoned
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Pyotr Versilov has reportedly been taken to hospital amid fears he may have been poisonedCredit: Rex Features
 This is the moment Pyotr invaded the World Cup final pitch as France played Croatia in July
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This is the moment Pyotr invaded the World Cup final pitch as France played Croatia in JulyCredit: Getty - Contributor
 Security ran onto the pitch and tackled the Pussy Riot invader to the ground
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Security ran onto the pitch and tackled the Pussy Riot invader to the groundCredit: Getty - Contributor
 He was storming the pitch as part of a Pussy Riot protest to raise awareness of political issues in Russia
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He was storming the pitch as part of a Pussy Riot protest to raise awareness of political issues in RussiaCredit: Getty - Contributor
 Croatia defender Dejan Lovren angrily confronts pitch invader Pyotr Verzilov
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Croatia defender Dejan Lovren angrily confronts pitch invader Pyotr VerzilovCredit: Reuters
France World Cup final clash against Croatia delayed in second-half after pitch invasion from feminist punk band Pussy Riot

"He became worse all the time faster, convulsions began. He fell into such a half-sleepy, half-forgotten state, stopped reacting to me, recognising me..."

She claims Peter was taken to the toxicology department at 1am, but medics refused to tell her if he had been poisoned.

Veronika said the only information staff would give her was that he had started to "react to his name".

It comes after reports that Veronika and an unidentified friend were arrested in their car after being stopped by police on Monday.

 Pyotr Verzilov, arrives for a hearing at Moscow's magistrate court
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Pyotr Verzilov, arrives for a hearing at Moscow's magistrate courtCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Family members claim doctors wouldn't let them see the activist or know any details of his condition amid fears he was poisoned
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Family members claim doctors wouldn't let them see the activist or know any details of his condition amid fears he was poisonedCredit: This content is subject to copyright.
 The pitch invaders dragged their feet as they were hauled off in July
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The pitch invaders dragged their feet as they were hauled off in JulyCredit: EPA
Pussy Riot release video explaining why the invaded the pitch at the World Cup final
 Veronika Nikulshina and Pyotr Verzilov are both part of the feminist group Pussy Riot
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Veronika Nikulshina and Pyotr Verzilov are both part of the feminist group Pussy RiotCredit: East2west News

Pussy Riot claimed in a tweet: “Moscow police is now claiming that Nika and her friend were refusing to agree to a ‘terrorist check’ of their car – and they had to be arrested. Crazy accusations!

“The girls have been arrested in their car for absolutely NOTHING. Moscow police is still mad after the World Cup action."

A report by the Guardian claims that Peter was also arrested on Monday outside his home.

 Veronika Nikulshina and Pyotr Verzilov were both involved in the pitch invasion
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Veronika Nikulshina and Pyotr Verzilov were both involved in the pitch invasionCredit: East2west News

Both Peter and Veronika were jailed for 15 days in July after storming the World Cup pitch, where France was playing Russia, wearing police uniforms.

It was part of a protest calling for the release of political prisoners, to stop policing people's political views on social media and for more open political competition.

Pussy Riot are vocal critics of Vladimir Putin and what they regard as a repressive political climate in Russia.

Russian news website Meduza, where the report originated, is run by a group of journalists opposed to Kremlin and based in Latvia to evade censors.

Detained Pussy Riot protesters who invaded the pitch at the World Cup final are interrogated by furious police officers


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