European Governments Allege 'Dart Frog Toxin' Used by Russia in Navalny Case

Five European countries have publicly accused the Russian state of poisoning opposition leader Alexei Navalny with a rare and lethal toxin derived from the skin of poison dart frogs, in findings released amid heightened Western scrutiny of the Kremlin’s treatment of its critics. The allegation marks one of the strongest collective accusations yet linking Moscow to Navalny’s death.

In a joint statement issued by the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands, officials said laboratory analysis of tissue samples taken from Navalny’s body “conclusively confirmed the presence of epibatidine,” a neurotoxin naturally found in South American dart frogs and not present in Russia. The report said Russia “had the means, motive and opportunity to administer this poison” while Navalny was serving his sentence in a remote Arctic penal colony.

Navalny, a fierce critic of Vladimir Putin and prominent anti-corruption campaigner, died on February 16, 2024, while serving a 19-year sentence that many international observers deemed politically motivated. The new findings were unveiled as Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, attended the Munich Security Conference, marking the second anniversary of his death. She welcomed the analysis as validation of longstanding concerns that her husband was intentionally poisoned.

Also Read: Iran’s FM Araghchi Brands Munich Security Conference a Circus Over Iran

European foreign ministers said they plan to report Russia to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for breaching the Chemical Weapons Convention, asserting that using such a toxin constitutes a serious violation of international norms. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper described the alleged poisoning as evidence of Moscow’s fear of political opposition, while French officials said it highlighted the willingness to deploy chemical agents against critics.

The Kremlin has rejected the allegations, dismissing them as Western propaganda and insisting that Navalny died of natural causes after becoming ill. Russian officials have not yet commented on the specific toxin findings, and have questioned the provenance and release of the laboratory results cited by European nations.

Navalny had survived an earlier poisoning attempt in 2020 with a nerve agent, an attack he and Western governments attributed to Russian security services — a claim the Kremlin denied. The latest European declaration adds to a broader pattern of accusations regarding the lethal targeting of Kremlin opponents and has intensified calls for accountability and international investigation.

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi Criticises India-US Trade Deal Over Textile Sector Impact