Five European countries have concluded that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died after being poisoned with a highly toxic substance known as epibatidine, disputing Russia’s earlier claim that his death was from natural causes.
In a joint statement, the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany said laboratory analysis of samples linked to Navalny detected the presence of epibatidine — a potent compound associated with certain South American poison dart frogs. The governments said the toxicity of the substance, combined with reported symptoms before his death, makes poisoning the most likely cause.
“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,” the statement said.
Navalny died in February 2024 at the age of 47 while imprisoned in a penal colony north of the Arctic Circle. Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service announced at the time that he collapsed after a walk and could not be revived. Authorities maintained that his death was natural.
The European statement challenged that explanation, noting that Navalny died in custody.
“Navalny died while held in prison, meaning Russia had the means, motive and opportunity to administer this poison to him,” the five governments said.
