'Highly likely' that rare poison killed Putin nemesis Navalny, Europeans say

"It is "highly likely" that Russian opposition leader Alexei Nalvany was killed by a rare toxin found in poison dart frogs, five European nations said in a statement Saturday, adding that Russia had the "means, motive, and opportunity" to administer the deadly dose when Navalny died in an Arctic prison two years ago. The statement issued by the United Kingdom, Sweden, France, the Netherlands and Germany was timed to coincide with the Munich Security Conference - the same venue his wife, Yulia Navalnaya, was about to attend when she heard of his death in 2024."

"Nalvany, an opposition leader who was one of the few figures to pose a threat to Russian President Vladimir Putin, died suddenly in an Arctic prison colony in February 2024. His death sent shock waves across Russia and around the world and was condemned as state-sponsored murder. A day earlier, he had appeared in a court hearing by video link and seemed in good health. His family, who continued to run his political operation in exile, had long warned his life was in danger after he had been poisoned with a banned nerve agent in Germany."

Five European nations — the United Kingdom, Sweden, France, the Netherlands and Germany — concluded that analysis of samples confirmed the presence of epibatidine, a toxin found in poison dart frogs. Epibatidine is not found naturally in Russia. The toxin's high toxicity and reported symptoms make poisoning a highly likely cause of death. Alexei Navalny died in an Arctic prison colony in February 2024 while in custody. Navalny had previously been poisoned with a banned nerve agent in Germany. The circumstances and custody status indicate Russia had means, motive and opportunity.

Read at The Washington Post