The United Kingdom and four other European countries have accused Russia of killing opposition leader Alexei Navalny using a rare poison while he was in prison. The countries said laboratory analysis supports their conclusion.
Joint Statement By Five Countries
The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands issued a joint statement blaming the Russian state.
According to the statement, tests detected epibatidine, a highly toxic substance found in poison dart frogs. Officials said the rare nature of the compound suggests it was not accidental.
The countries said only the Russian state had the means and opportunity to use such a substance.
Navalny’s Death In Custody
Navalny, a strong critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died in February 2024 while serving a prison sentence in a remote penal colony.
Russian authorities earlier said he died of natural causes. The five countries rejected that explanation after reviewing forensic findings.
Possible International Action
The countries said they plan to raise the issue at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons under the Chemical Weapons Convention.
They described the alleged poisoning as a serious violation of international law.
Russia’s Position
Russia has denied responsibility for Navalny’s death and has not accepted the findings of the joint statement.
