Russia fatally 'poisoned' Putin critic Navalny with rare toxin, European states say
France 24 Europe
by FRANCE 24February 14, 2026
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European countries have accused Russia of poisoning opposition leader Alexei Navalny with a rare toxin linked to South American dart frogs, according to a joint statement by the UK, Sweden, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Navalny, a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died in February 2024 while serving a 19-year prison sentence in an Arctic penal colony. The European nations claim that analyses of samples from Navalny’s body show he was poisoned with epibatidine, a highly toxic substance, which they say aligns with his reported symptoms and the circumstances of his death.
The statement highlights Russia’s alleged “means, motive, and opportunity” to administer the poison, given Navalny’s detention at the time of his death. The European countries also accused Russia of violating the Chemical Weapons Convention by failing to destroy all its chemical weapons, as required by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). This follows previous allegations that Russia used a Soviet-era nerve agent, Novichok, to poison Navalny in 2020 during his anti-corruption campaign in Siberia.
Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, welcomed the findings as “science-proven” evidence of her husband’s murder. She had previously claimed that Russia was behind his death and provided laboratory analyses of biological samples supporting this claim. The European nations have reportedly referred the matter to the OPCW, intensifying international scrutiny of Russia’s compliance with global chemical weapons agreements.
This development underscores the ongoing tensions between Russia and the West, particularly over Navalny’s case, which has been a flashpoint for broader geopolitical issues. The accusations not only highlight the potential for further escalation in diplomatic relations but also raise concerns about the use of chemical weapons as tools of repression or assassination. As global attention focuses on Russia’s actions, this case remains a critical issue for those monitoring human rights and international security.
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Originally published on France 24 Europe on 2/14/2026