Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was killed using a poison developed from a dart frog toxin, according to the UK and European allies.
The UK Foreign Office stated that there is no innocent explanation for the toxin, called epibatidine, being found in samples taken from Navalny's body. This conclusion was reached after analysis of material samples found on his body, as reported by the BBC.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the findings at the Munich Security Conference, saying: "Only the Russian government had the means, motive and opportunity to deploy this lethal toxin against Alexei Navalny during his imprisonment in Russia."
Response from Allies
A joint statement was issued by the UK, Sweden, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, stating that only the Russian state had the means, motive, and opportunity to deploy the lethal toxin to target Navalny during his imprisonment in a Russian penal colony in Siberia.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said his country "pays tribute" to Navalny, who he said was "killed for his fight in favour of a free and democratic Russia".
Background on Navalny's Death
Navalny, an anti-corruption campaigner and Russia's most vociferous opposition leader, died suddenly in jail on 16 February 2024 at the age of 47. In 2020, he was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent and underwent treatment in Germany.
Before Saturday's announcement, Navalny's wife Yulia Navalnaya had consistently argued that her husband was killed by poisoning while serving a prison sentence in an Arctic penal colony in 2024.
Reaction to the Announcement
Reacting to the announcement, Navalnaya said: "I was certain from the first day that my husband had been poisoned, but now there is proof." She added that she is grateful to the European states for the meticulous work they carried out over two years and for uncovering the truth.
The Kremlin has not commented on the allegations. Russian President Vladimir Putin briefly referred to Navalny a month after his death, stating that a person passing was "always a sad event".
