UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has called on the Russian government to conduct an independent investigation into the case of opposition politician Alexey Navalny, the Associated Press reported.

According to the spokesperson of the UN High Commissioner Rupert Colville, Bachelet welcomed the improvement in Navalny's condition.

According to her statement, there is no doubt that this exotic and supremely lethal substance, Novichok, was used, and it is absolutely necessary to conduct a proper investigation.

Navalny was someone who needed state protection ... even if he was a political thorn in the government. It is not good enough to simply deny that he was poisoned and deny the need for a thorough, independent, impartial and transparent investigation into this assassination attempt, the statement said.