Two U.S. Women May Have Been Poisoned In Moscow

The United States Embassy in Moscow has confirmed that two U.S. women have been hospitalized for possible thallium poisoning.

The U.S. State Department identified the women as Marina Kovalevsky and her daughter, Yana. They were hospitalized on February 24 with symptoms of poisoning.

Speaking in Washington March 6, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said U.S. government officials are in contact with the family of the women.

"Russian authorities are now conducting an investigation to try to determine when and how this happened," McCormack said. "Our consular officers are in direct contact with the Kovalevsky family to offer whatever assistance we can while they are hospitalized in Russia as well as helping them return back to the United States."

According to Russian press reports, the two were born in the Soviet Union and emigrated in 1989. The reports say the women arrived in Moscow in mid-February to attend a wedding.

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