UK and allies say Russia killed Alexei Navalny with dart frog toxin
Britain and four European partners say tests found the toxin epibatidine on Navalny's body and hold the Russian state responsible for his February 2024 death in a Siberian prison.
- UK, Sweden, France, Germany and the Netherlands say analysis detected epibatidine in samples taken from Navalny and blame the Russian state for his death.
- Epibatidine is a potent toxin found in South American dart frogs and is not naturally present in Russia or produced by captive frogs.
- UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said only the Russian government had the means, motive and opportunity to deploy the toxin.
- The UK has notified the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons of an alleged Chemical Weapons Convention breach.
- Navalny died on 16 February 2024 in a Siberian penal colony at age 47 after previously surviving a 2020 Novichok poisoning.
- Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya welcomed the findings, while the Kremlin has not commented.