The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands have published a joint report indicating that Alexei Navalny was murdered in a penal colony using epibatidine. This is a potent neurotoxin derived from South American poison dart frogs, which does not occur naturally in Russia. Western researchers confirmed the presence of the substance in samples taken from the opposition figure's body, directly implicating the Kremlin in his death in February 2024.

Identification of a Rare Poison

Tests on samples from Alexei Navalny's body confirmed the presence of epibatidine, a toxin derived from exotic frogs in Ecuador.

United European Front

The United Kingdom, France, and Germany, along with allies, have officially held Vladimir Putin responsible for the chemical attack.

United States Response

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the USA does not question the European findings, describing the report as exceptionally concerning.

A joint investigation by five European powers has led to a breakthrough in the case of the death of Alexei Navalny. According to the announced statement, the politician was poisoned with epibatidine, an extremely rare toxin obtained from the skin of Ecuadorian frogs of the poison dart frog family. This substance is classified as a chemical weapon under international regulations. The governments of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands claim that the laboratory evidence is indisputable and points to the direct involvement of Russian special services in eliminating the opposition leader. Alexei Navalny had already survived an attempted poisoning with a Novichok-type nerve agent in 2020, after which he was treated in Germany. Upon returning to Russia in 2021, he was immediately arrested and sentenced to a long-term stay in high-security penal colonies. The reaction from Moscow was immediate and predictable. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed these accusations as "baseless" and labeled the report as Western propaganda. Meanwhile, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, attempted to discredit the findings, suggesting that their publication aims to divert attention from internal issues in Western countries. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared in Bratislava that Washington has no reason to question the reliability of the European research. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has already announced consideration of new, severe sanctions against Vladimir Putin's regime in response to these reports. „Putin poisoned and killed my husband. He is a murderer, and the West still overestimates him.” — Yulia Navalnaya Experts emphasize that the use of such an exotic poison could have served two purposes: hindering detection by standard toxicological procedures and sending a brutal signal to other political opponents. Epibatidine paralyzes the nervous system, leading to respiratory failure. The fact that this substance does not occur naturally in the territory of the Russian Federation is a key element of the European countries' argument, indicating deliberate action by a state with access to advanced chemical laboratories. 5 — European countries signed the report accusing the Kremlin

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Mentioned People

  • Alexei Navalny — Russian opposition figure and political prisoner, whose death in 2024 became the subject of an international investigation.
  • Marco Rubio — U.S. Secretary of State who confirmed the credibility of the European report during a visit to Slovakia.
  • Yvette Cooper — British Foreign Secretary announcing strengthened sanctions against Moscow.
  • Yulia Navalnaya — Widow of the opposition leader, continuing his political struggle.