British and European officials have accused Russia of killing opposition leader Alexei Navalny using a rare poison derived from a dart frog toxin, following new scientific analysis of samples taken from his body.
Two years after Navalny’s death in a Siberian prison colony, the United Kingdom and several European allies say evidence now points directly to the Russian state.
Speaking at an international security meeting, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said that only the Russian government had the “means, motive, and opportunity” to use such a toxin while Navalny was in custody.
“There is no innocent explanation for how this substance came to be in his body,” Cooper said. “Only the Russian state could have carried out this act.”
Joint European Statement
A joint statement was released by the UK, Sweden, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, concluding that Russia was responsible for Navalny’s death.
The statement said:
“Only the Russian state had the capacity to deploy this lethal toxin during Navalny’s imprisonment, and we therefore hold it responsible for his death.”
The toxin identified was epibatidine, a powerful neurotoxin naturally found in tiny amounts in certain wild dart frogs in South America. It does not exist naturally in Russia and is almost impossible to obtain without advanced scientific facilities.
The UK government has informed the Organisation on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons of what it says is Russia’s violation of international law.
Meeting with Navalny’s Widow
While announcing the findings, Cooper met with Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, who has long claimed that her husband was poisoned.
Navalnaya welcomed the report, saying:
“I knew from the first day that my husband had been poisoned. Now there is proof. I am grateful to the European states for uncovering the truth.”
She had previously said that secret laboratory tests on biological samples showed that Navalny had been murdered, though details were not publicly released at the time.
Expert: Toxin Is Extremely Rare
Toxicology experts say epibatidine is one of the most dangerous natural substances known.
Speaking to the BBC, toxicologist Jill Johnson said the substance is about 200 times stronger than morphine and attacks the central nervous system.
She explained that the toxin can cause:
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Muscle paralysis
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Seizures
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Slowed heart rate
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Respiratory failure
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Death
Johnson described it as “an incredibly rare way to poison someone,” adding that finding the right frog with the correct diet to produce the toxin is “almost impossible.”
Russia Rejects the Claims
Russia has strongly denied the allegations. State media agency Tass quoted Kremlin spokesperson Maria Zakharova as calling the report an “information campaign” aimed at distracting from Western problems.
President Vladimir Putin has never openly discussed Navalny in detail. After his death, he briefly described it as “a sad event,” without addressing accusations of state involvement.
Navalny’s Life and Death
Navalny was Russia’s most prominent opposition figure and a leading anti-corruption campaigner. He spent years exposing alleged corruption within the Russian government.
In 2020, he survived a poisoning with the nerve agent Novichok and received treatment in Germany. After returning to Russia, he was arrested and later sentenced on what supporters described as politically motivated charges.
He died on 16 February 2024 at the age of 47 in a remote Arctic prison colony. Russian authorities said he collapsed after feeling unwell during a walk and could not be revived.
Supporters have always rejected this explanation.
International Reaction
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praised Navalny’s courage, saying his commitment to truth and justice left “an enduring legacy.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Navalny was “killed for his fight for a free and democratic Russia.”
Western leaders say the case highlights continued repression in Russia and the dangers faced by political opponents of the Kremlin.
Conclusion
The findings mark one of the strongest international accusations yet against Russia over Navalny’s death. By identifying a rare and highly controlled toxin, European governments argue that his killing could not have happened without state involvement.
While Moscow continues to deny responsibility, many observers say the evidence strengthens long-standing claims that Navalny was deliberately targeted for his political activism.
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