UK Blames Kremlin for Navalny's Death: Dart Frog Toxin Used

Sat Feb 14 2026 22:19:46 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Alexei Navalny, notable Russian opposition leader, was allegedly killed using epibatidine, a toxin derived from dart frogs, suggest UK and allies. The findings reveal Kremlin's role in his demise.

In a shocking revelation, UK officials claim that Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who died in prison in 2024, was poisoned with a toxin derived from dart frogs. The UK government has asserted that the Kremlin is responsible for his death, citing a lack of innocent explanations for the presence of epibatidine in Navalny's body. These findings have led to renewed scrutiny of Russia's treatment of political dissenters and raised calls for accountability from a coalition of European allies.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was killed using a poison developed from a dart frog toxin, the UK and European allies have said.

Two years on from the death of Navalny at a Siberian penal colony, Britain and its allies have blamed the Kremlin following analysis of material samples found on his body.

There is no innocent explanation for the toxin, called epibatidine, being found in samples taken from Navalny's body, the UK Foreign Office said.

Speaking from the Munich Security Conference, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated: Only the Russian government had the means, motive and opportunity to deploy this lethal toxin against Alexei Navalny during his imprisonment in Russia.

A joint statement was issued by the UK, Sweden, France, Germany, and the Netherlands asserting that only the Russian state had the capability to target Navalny with such poison.

The unique nature of epibatidine, found naturally in dart frogs in South America and not naturally occurring in Russia, underscores the grave implications of these findings.

Cooper, expressing sympathy towards Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, emphasized the Russian state's fear of political opposition.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praised Navalny's courage and condemned Russia's actions, asserting a commitment to protecting democratic values from external threats.

Navalny's death on February 16, 2024, at age 47, has raised significant questions regarding the Kremlin's treatment of dissidents, following his earlier poisoning with a Novichok nerve agent in 2020.

The Kremlin has yet to respond to the allegations, and further investigations are being pursued regarding Russia's possible breaches of international chemical weapons treaties.

Experts have described epibatidine as an exceptionally rare poison, making its use in Navalny's case particularly alarming.