UK and allies say Navalny was poisoned with rare frog toxin
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died in prison after being poisoned with a powerful toxin found in Ecuadorian dart frogs, according to claims by the UK and its allies. The neurotoxin, epibatidine, is said to be 200 times stronger than morphine and causes victims to suffocate in agony. Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, announced the findings at a press conference alongside foreign ministers from several European countries. Investigations are ongoing, and the findings are set to be submitted to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
What we know
- Yulia Navalnaya revealed the discovery of the deadly toxin at the Munich Security Conference, joined by foreign ministers from the UK, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands.
- The UK, France, and other allies have been investigating the circumstances of Alexei Navalny’s death, which occurred in a Russian penal colony.
- The neurotoxin identified, epibatidine, originates from Ecuadorian dart frogs and is much stronger than morphine.
- The UK and its partners plan to submit their findings to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
- Russian authorities had previously attributed Navalny’s death to “combined diseases,” but have not yet responded to these new allegations.
