Navalny died from dart-frog toxin, UK and European allies say Russia responsible

Britain and four European allies said tests found the toxin epibatidine in Alexei Navalny's body and blamed Russia; the Kremlin has rejected the claims.

Britain and four European allies announced findings at the Munich Security Conference that analyses of samples from Alexei Navalny's body showed the presence of the toxin epibatidine. The announcement linked the finding to Navalny's death in a Siberian penal colony in February 2024 while he was serving a prison sentence. Officials said they regard the discovery as evidence of poisoning and presented it as part of a broader pattern of attacks. The Kremlin has denied responsibility and disputed the statements made by the Western governments. What officials reported: - The UK, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands said analyses conclusively confirmed epibatidine was present in samples from Navalny's body. - Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and other officials said only Russia had the "means, motive and opportunity" to deploy such a toxin during his imprisonment. - Navalny died in a Siberian penal colony in February 2024 while serving a 19-year sentence, according to the reporting governments. - The Russian foreign ministry rejected the claims and described the announcements as propaganda in a statement reported by state media. Summary: The five governments said they have reported the findings to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Undetermined at this time.