Viktor Yushchenko was poisoned in 2004 when he was campaigning in an election against a Russian-backed candidate Viktor Yanukovych
64-year-old Viktor Yushchenko, the former Ukrainian president, was poisoned in 2004 when he was campaigning in an election against a Russian-backed candidate Viktor Yanukovych.
According to the former president, his face swelled and erupted with pus after his rice was laced with ‘Agent Orange toxin’
The effects of the chemical distorted his face which was also partially paralysed.
A clean-looking Viktor Yushchenko before the poisoning
Yushchenko told the BBC that he thought he had been poisoned during a dinner he had with the head of Ukraine’s security and deputy.
He said: "When I arrived home and kissed my wife, the first thing she said was 'your lips taste metallic'.
"I then went to Austria and on the second or third day my body started swelling. My head grew in size dramatically and the pain spread all over my body.
"Then I started having inflammations and pus forming all over my body.
"According to investigations, the poison was added to the rice which was served at the table."
