LONDON – Poisoning of Navalny Confirmed by Five European Nations
Opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned by the Kremlin using a lethal toxin from poison dart frogs, according to a statement made by the foreign ministries of Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands on Saturday.
These countries stated that tests on samples from Navalny, who passed away two years ago, showed “conclusively” that epibatidine was present. This particular toxin, found in poison dart frogs in South America, isn’t naturally occurring in Russia.
“Russia had the means, motive, and opportunity to administer this poison,” the foreign ministries expressed in a joint statement. They also revealed that they would be reporting Russia to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for violating the Chemical Weapons Convention.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper remarked, “Russia perceived Mr. Navalny as a threat. The use of this poison highlights the vile tactics at its disposal and its profound fear of political dissent.”
Navalny, who was regarded as President Vladimir Putin’s principal adversary, had exposed corruption among officials and spearheaded large-scale protests against the Kremlin. He died while imprisoned in a penal colony in the Arctic in February 2024, where he was serving a politically motivated, lengthy 19-year sentence.
Last year, Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, mentioned that two independent labs confirmed that her husband was poisoned shortly before his death. Navalny had consistently accused President Putin of being responsible for his demise, a claim Russian officials strongly refute.
On Saturday, Navalnaya expressed her firm belief, stating she was “convinced from day one” that her husband was poisoned, adding, “but now we have proof.”
“Putin killed Alexei with chemical weapons,” she posted on social media, labeling Putin as “a murderer who must be held accountable.”
Meanwhile, Russian officials claimed that Navalny became ill after a walk and that he died of natural causes.
In 2020, Navalny was subjected to a nerve agent attack, which he attributed to the Kremlin—a charge the Russian government has consistently denied. After being flown to Germany for treatment following the attack, he returned to Russia five months later but was arrested and remained imprisoned for three years.
