Russia killed opposition leader Alexei Navalny using dart frog toxin, UK says
Russia killed opposition leader Alexei Navalny using dart frog toxin, UK says
UK and Allies Blame Kremlin for Navalny’s Poisoning
Two years after the death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny in a Siberian prison, the UK and its European partners have accused the Kremlin of orchestrating his poisoning with a toxin derived from dart frogs. At the Munich Security Conference, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that only the Russian government had the capacity, incentive, and timing to administer the poison while Navalny was detained.
The toxin, identified as epibatidine, is naturally produced by certain poison dart frogs in northern South America. However, captive frogs do not generate this substance, and it is not found in Russia’s natural environment. Cooper emphasized that there is no plausible explanation for its presence in Navalny’s system, calling it “an information campaign” by Moscow. A joint statement from the UK, Sweden, France, Germany, and the Netherlands confirmed the Kremlin’s responsibility for his death.
Epibatidine: A Rare Neurotoxin
Epibatidine, which has been studied for potential medical use as a painkiller, is exceptionally potent—200 times stronger than morphine. Toxicology expert Jill Johnson explained that it targets the central nervous system, causing muscle spasms, paralysis, seizures, slowed heart rate, and ultimately respiratory failure. She noted the toxin is only produced in wild frogs that consume a specific diet, a process that is rare and difficult to replicate in captivity.
“Finding the wild frog in the correct location that is eating the specific diet to create the correct alkaloids is almost impossible… almost.”
The UK has informed the Organisation on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons of Russia’s alleged violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praised Navalny’s “huge courage” and highlighted his legacy in exposing corruption. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot added that Navalny was “killed for his fight in favour of a free and democratic Russia.”
Navalny’s Death and Previous Poisoning
Alexei Navalny, a prominent anti-corruption activist and vocal critic of the Russian government, died suddenly in February 2024 while imprisoned in a Siberian facility. Earlier, in 2020, he was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent, which he treated in Germany before being re-arrested upon his return to Russia.
Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, had previously claimed his death was caused by poisoning during his 2024 prison term. In September of the prior year, she stated that biological samples analyzed by labs in two nations confirmed his murder. She challenged the laboratories to release their findings, stating, “I was certain from the first day that my husband had been poisoned, but now there is proof.”
Scientific Evidence and International Response
Johnson, speaking to BBC Russian, stressed that epibatidine’s rarity makes it a compelling case for targeted poisoning. The toxin’s presence in Navalny’s body suggests deliberate use, as wild frogs must meet precise dietary conditions to produce it. Cooper’s remarks underscored the Kremlin’s fear of political dissent, describing the method as “despicable tools” used to eliminate opposition.
The UK’s Foreign Office confirmed the evidence was shared with OPCW, marking Russia’s alleged breach of chemical warfare protocols. Navalnaya expressed gratitude to the European states for their thorough investigation, highlighting the international community’s role in uncovering the truth.
