Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny was allegedly poisoned by the Russian government using a toxic substance derived from poison dart frogs, according to statements from five European countries on Saturday. The U.K., France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands jointly reported that samples taken from Navalny, who passed away on February 16, 2024, confirmed the presence of epibatidine, a toxin typically found in South American poison dart frogs and not naturally occurring in Russia.
The foreign ministries of the five nations asserted that Russia had the means and opportunity to administer this poisonous substance. They announced their intention to report Russia to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for violating the Chemical Weapons Convention, although there has been no immediate response from the organization.
Navalny, a prominent critic of official corruption and a key opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died while serving a 19-year sentence in a penal colony in the Arctic. His supporters believe his imprisonment was politically motivated.
The widow of Navalny, Yulia Navalnaya, had previously stated that independent labs confirmed her husband was poisoned before his death. She has consistently accused Putin of being responsible for Navalny’s demise, referring to him as a “murderer” who must face justice.
Reports suggest that epibatidine, the toxin found in Navalny, can be naturally occurring in wild dart frogs but can also be artificially created in a laboratory. This toxic substance is known to impact the body similarly to nerve agents, leading to symptoms like breathing difficulties, convulsions, seizures, decreased heart rate, and ultimately, death.
Navalny had previously survived a nerve agent poisoning in 2020, which he attributed to the Kremlin despite official denials. After seeking treatment in Germany, he returned to Russia and was promptly arrested, spending the remainder of his life in prison.
The poisoning of Navalny has reignited accusations against Russia for disregarding international bans on chemical and biological weapons. The U.K. has specifically pointed to a 2018 incident in Salisbury involving the nerve agent Novichok, targeting former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal. A British inquiry concluded that this attack likely had the authorization of President Putin, a claim denied by the Kremlin.