Russia Poisoned Putin Critic Navalny in Prison With Rare Toxin – European States - The Moscow Times
Moscow Times
February 14, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Russia's opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a rare toxin linked to South American dart frogs while in prison, according to five European nations—U.K., Sweden, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. These countries, gathered at the Munich Security Conference, accused Russia of using epibatidine, a highly toxic substance, to cause his death in February 2024 during his 19-year imprisonment. Navalny's widow Yulia confirmed the findings, stating it was scientifically proven that her husband was murdered. The European nations also criticized Russia for allegedly breaching the Chemical Weapons Convention by not destroying all its chemical weapons.
Navalny had a history of being targeted by Russia, having survived a previous poisoning with the nerve agent Novichok in 2020. He remained a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin despite his imprisonment and continued to campaign against corruption and Russia's actions in Ukraine. The European countries have now reported Russia to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), accusing Moscow of using biological weapons to silence dissent.
The Kremlin denies any involvement, claiming Navalny died from natural causes during a prison walk. However, the European nations argue that Russia had the means, motive, and opportunity to poison him due to his imprisonment. This incident raises concerns about Russia's adherence to international norms on chemical weapons and highlights the global implications of state-sponsored targeting of political opponents.
Navalny's case has drawn significant attention for its resemblance to other high-profile poisonings linked to Russian actors. His death underscores the risks faced by critics of authoritarian regimes and the lengths governments may go to silence opposition. The European nations' accusation adds further pressure on Russia, potentially straining diplomatic relations and drawing international condemnation for alleged violations of human rights and chemical weapons agreements.
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Originally published on Moscow Times on 2/14/2026