The Russian Government, epibatidine, extracted from the Ecuadorian poison dart frog. The same substance that the indigenous tribes of that country used on the tips of their arrows. This accusation against the Kremlin has been reflected in the joint statement that the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden launched this Saturday at the Munich Security Conference.
“Only the Russian State had the means, motivation and opportunity to enter a Russian penal colony in Siberia. That is why we hold it responsible for his death,” the joint text states.
Navalny, who became, even in prison, Vladimir Putin, due to the growing support of the population for his opposition activity, died two years ago in a Russian penitentiary center. All suspicions pointed towards the idea of a murder.
A joint investigation by the five countries throughout this time has confirmed, through laboratory tests, that samples of epibatidine were found in Navalni’s body.
“By using this type of poison, the Russian State demonstrated both the despicable tools at its disposal and the increasing fear it has of the political opposition,” the complaining countries claim. “Epibatidine is found naturally in dart frogs from the jungles of South America. But these frogs in captivity do not produce the toxin, which cannot be found naturally in Russia either. There is no innocent explanation for the fact that it was detected in Navalny’s body,” the statement denounces.
The Foreign Minister of the United Kingdom, Yvette Cooper, met this Saturday in Munich with Navalni’s widow, Yulia Naválnaya, to transmit the result of the investigation in person. “Russia saw Navalny as a threat,” Cooper said. “Together with his widow, today the United Kingdom wants to shed light on the Kremlin’s barbaric plot to silence his voice.”
The five countries have reported their findings to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and the Kremlin’s violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. All of them have pledged to hold Russia accountable for its actions. The Russian Government has not yet responded to this accusation.
Navalny accused the Russian Government of corruption for years, and became one of the most effective leaders of the Russian opposition and most supported by citizens.
. He survived the attack by receiving medical treatment in Germany. Once recovered, aware that the Russian authorities were willing to imprison him, he still decided to return to his country, where
Navalny’s widow has insisted for two years that her husband had been murdered. The conclusions of the investigation announced this Saturday represent a boost to the Navalnaya campaign, supported by numerous Western countries but totally ignored by Moscow.
“I knew from the first day that my husband had been poisoned, but now I have the evidence. I am grateful to all the European States that, for two years, have worked meticulously so that the truth comes to light,” she said.
Navalni’s death, despite the extreme harshness of the conditions in which he was held, shocked the world. It was announced on February 16, 2026, when the opponent was 47 years old.
Putin always avoided referring to him by his own name when he was alive, and only made one comment a month after his death: “It is always sad when a person dies.” The official version of the Russian authorities established that Navalny had gone for a walk in the Siberian penal colony where he was being held, began to feel ill and suddenly collapsed.
“His determination to expose the truth has left a legacy that will last,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in Munich. “I will do what I can to defend our citizens, our principles and our way of life against the threat of Russia and assassination attempts.” [ordenados] for Putin,” Starmer has promised.
