West Accuses Russia of Poisoning Navalny with Frog Toxin

Five European nations accuse Russia of poisoning Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny using a toxin from South American poison dart frogs. Moscow denies the allegation calling it propaganda. Navalny, labeled a terrorist in Russia, died in 2024 in an Arctic prison where he was serving time on disputed charges.

Five European allies have accused Russia of poisoning Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny with a toxin derived from South American poison dart frogs. The statement, released Saturday, marks two years since Navalny's death in an Arctic prison, charges Moscow dismisses as Western propaganda.

In their joint statement, Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands contended that analyses of Navalny's body confirmed the presence of epibatidine, a potent toxin not found naturally in Russia. The Russian government and its embassy in London have refuted the allegations, describing them as a "Western propaganda hoax" and "nonsense."

The British government, citing a pattern of alarming behavior, referenced a past investigation into the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, a former Russian double agent. Meanwhile, Yulia Navalnaya, his widow, attended the Munich Security Conference, calling for accountability against Russia. Protests followed across Europe, demanding justice and Russia's compliance with chemical weapons conventions.