Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was killed in prison after he was found with a deadly toxin that is usually found in Ecuadorian dart frogs, the UK government, as well as other governments, revealed on Saturday.
In a joint statement from the UK, Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands, the countries stated that they are "confident that Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a lethal toxin. This is the conclusion of our Governments based on analyses of samples from Alexei Navalny. These analyses have conclusively confirmed the presence of epibatidine."
"Epibatidine is a toxin found in poison dart frogs in South America. It is not found naturally in Russia. Russia claimed that Navalny died of natural causes. But given the toxicity of epibatidine and reported symptoms, poisoning was highly likely the cause of his death. Navalny died while held in prison, meaning Russia had the means, motive and opportunity to administer this poison to him," the statement added.
It is not clear how the toxin was given to Navalny. The leader's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, appeared in a press conference at the Munich Security Conference in order to announce the analysis of her husband's death, as she was also flanked by officials from different countries.
At the time, she said that she was "sure that it was a murder" and that “today, these words have become scientifically proven facts.”
“Only the Russian government had the means, the motive and the opportunity to use that toxin against Alexei Navalny in prison,” said British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. “We are here today to shine a spotlight on the Kremlin’s barbaric attempt to silence Alexei Navalny’s voice."
In a post on X, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said, "Two years ago, Alexei Navalny died as a result of poisoning with one of the deadliest nerve agents. We now know that Vladimir Putin is prepared to use biological weapons against his own people in order to remain in power. France pays tribute to this opposition figure, killed for his fight in favour of a free and democratic Russia."
In a joint statement from the UK, Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands, the countries stated that they are "confident that Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a lethal toxin. This is the conclusion of our Governments based on analyses of samples from Alexei Navalny. These analyses have conclusively confirmed the presence of epibatidine."
"Epibatidine is a toxin found in poison dart frogs in South America. It is not found naturally in Russia. Russia claimed that Navalny died of natural causes. But given the toxicity of epibatidine and reported symptoms, poisoning was highly likely the cause of his death. Navalny died while held in prison, meaning Russia had the means, motive and opportunity to administer this poison to him," the statement added.
It is not clear how the toxin was given to Navalny. The leader's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, appeared in a press conference at the Munich Security Conference in order to announce the analysis of her husband's death, as she was also flanked by officials from different countries.
At the time, she said that she was "sure that it was a murder" and that “today, these words have become scientifically proven facts.”
“Only the Russian government had the means, the motive and the opportunity to use that toxin against Alexei Navalny in prison,” said British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. “We are here today to shine a spotlight on the Kremlin’s barbaric attempt to silence Alexei Navalny’s voice."
In a post on X, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said, "Two years ago, Alexei Navalny died as a result of poisoning with one of the deadliest nerve agents. We now know that Vladimir Putin is prepared to use biological weapons against his own people in order to remain in power. France pays tribute to this opposition figure, killed for his fight in favour of a free and democratic Russia."
