News|Human RightsRussia’s Alexey Navalny killed by dart frog poison, European nations allegeFive European countries say findings ‘conclusively’ confirm the deadly toxin in the Russian opposition leader’s body as Moscow calls it Western propaganda.
On Sat, Feb 17, 2024, five European nations—United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands—issued a statement accusing Russia of poisoning opposition leader Alexey Navalny. Laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of the lethal toxin…
On Sat, Feb 17, 2024, five European nations—United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands—issued a statement accusing Russia of poisoning opposition leader Alexey Navalny. Laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of the lethal toxin epibatidine in samples taken from Navalny’s body.
The governments of the five countries have stated that tissue samples conclusively identified the toxin epibatidine, which is naturally found in wild dart frogs from South America. European scientists suspect the toxin was synthetically produced in this case.
The United Kingdom, Sweden, France, Germany, and the Netherlands are reporting Russia to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for a breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Russia has not provided immediate comments on the allegations.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office suggested that Russia had the means, motive, and opportunity to administer the poison. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that comments would follow once test results are publicly available.
Laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of the lethal toxin epibatidine in samples taken from Navalny’s body.
Alexey Navalny, known for his anti-corruption efforts and opposition to President Vladimir Putin, died in an Arctic penal colony on Thu, Feb 16, 2024. He was serving a 19-year sentence, which he described as politically motivated.
Epibatidine can cause severe symptoms such as shortness of breath, convulsions, seizures, and a slowed heart rate, potentially leading to death upon contact.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot have both made statements condemning the actions attributed to the Kremlin. The Russian government continues to deny any involvement in Navalny's death, attributing it to natural causes.
Navalny had previously survived a nerve agent poisoning in 2020, which he attributed to the Kremlin. He was treated in Germany and upon his return to Russia, he was arrested and imprisoned.
Similar cases have occurred, such as the poisoning of Russian double agent Sergey Skripal in 2018 and the death of Alexander Litvinenko in 2006. Both incidents resulted in inquiries that implicated Russian agents, though the Kremlin has denied responsibility in each case.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.