Russia killed Alexei Navalny with lethal toxin, claim Britain and four European allies

Britain and four European allies have said they are convinced that late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a lethal toxin while held in a Russian penal colony, and have blamed the Russian state for his death. In a joint statement issued in London on Saturday, the foreign ministries of the UK, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands said analyses of samples from Navalny had “conclusively confirmed the presence of epibatidine,” a toxin found in poison dart frogs in South America and not found naturally in Russia. ## ‘Conclusive’ evidence of epibatidine According to news agency Reuters, the five governments said they were convinced Navalny was poisoned with a lethal toxin in a penal colony two years ago. That was the conclusion based on analyses of samples from Navalny, the statement said. Another news agency Associated Press reported that the countries said in a joint statement that “Russia had the means, motive and opportunity to administer this poison”. They added that they were reporting Russia to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for a breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The statement noted that epibatidine is a toxin found in poison dart frogs in South America and is not found naturally in Russia. ## UK foreign secretary: ‘Despicable tools’ British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said, “Russia saw Navalny as a threat. By using this form of poison the Russian state demonstrated the despicable tools it has at its disposal and the overwhelming fear it has of political opposition.” The Russian government has denied any responsibility for Navalny’s death. ## Navalny’s death in Arctic penal colony Navalny, who crusaded against official corruption and staged massive anti-Kremlin protests as President Vladimir Putin’s fiercest foe, died in the Arctic penal colony in February 2024. He was serving a 19-year sentence that he believed to be politically motivated. Russian authorities said that the politician became ill after a walk and died from natural causes. Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, said last year that two independent labs had found that her husband was poisoned shortly before he died. Navalnaya has repeatedly blamed Putin for Navalny’s death, something Russian officials have vehemently denied. ## 2020 nerve agent attack In 2020, Navalny was poisoned in a nerve agent attack that he blamed on the Kremlin, which always denied involvement. His family and allies fought to have him flown to Germany for treatment and recovery. Five months later, he returned to Russia, where he was immediately arrested and imprisoned for the last three years of his life. (With inputs from Reuters, AP) The Express Global Desk at The Indian Express delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More