Five European countries have formally accused Russia of killing opposition leader Alexei Navalny using epibatidine, a highly toxic substance derived from poison dart frogs, stating that laboratory examinations confirmed he had been poisoned prior to his death in prison in 2024. The allegation marks a significant escalation in international accusations surrounding the circumstances of Navalny’s death and has prompted renewed diplomatic pressure on Moscow.
In a joint announcement released on Saturday, the foreign ministries of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands said scientific analysis of biological samples taken from Navalny conclusively detected traces of epibatidine. The governments noted that the toxin, naturally found in certain species of poison dart frogs native to South America, does not occur naturally in Russia, strengthening their claim that the substance was deliberately administered.
The five nations asserted that Russia possessed the capability, motive, and opportunity to carry out the poisoning. They also confirmed that the case has been referred to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), alleging that the use of such a substance constitutes a violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The move signals an effort to pursue international accountability through established chemical weapons oversight mechanisms.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the findings reinforced long-standing concerns about the Russian state’s treatment of political opponents. She stated that Navalny had been viewed as a serious political threat and argued that the alleged use of a rare toxin demonstrated both the extreme measures available to authorities and their fear of organised opposition.
Navalny, widely known for his anti-corruption investigations and for organising large-scale protests against President Vladimir Putin’s government, died in February 2024 while serving a 19-year prison sentence in a remote Arctic penal colony. He and his supporters had consistently maintained that the charges leading to his imprisonment were politically motivated.
Following his death, Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, said independent laboratory testing had indicated that he was poisoned shortly before he died. She has repeatedly accused President Putin of responsibility for her husband’s death, allegations that Russian officials have strongly rejected. Moscow has maintained that Navalny fell ill after a walk in prison and died from natural causes, denying any involvement in poisoning.
The accusations revive memories of a previous poisoning incident in 2020, when Navalny became critically ill after exposure to a nerve agent during a trip within Russia. He was later transported to Germany for medical treatment, where doctors concluded he had been poisoned. The Kremlin denied responsibility at the time. After recovering abroad, Navalny returned to Russia in early 2021, where he was immediately arrested and remained imprisoned until his death three years later.
The latest claims by European governments are likely to deepen already strained relations between Russia and Western nations, as calls grow for an independent international investigation and potential consequences under international law. The dispute further intensifies geopolitical tensions surrounding human rights, political repression, and the treatment of opposition figures in Russia.
