The UK has today exposed the chilling truth behind the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a Siberian prison.
Laboratory tests confirm that epibatidine, a lethal toxin found in the skin of Ecuadorian dart frogs, was in Navalny’s body — and almost certainly caused his death.
“Only the Russian state had the means, motive and opportunity to deploy this lethal toxin during Navalny’s imprisonment — and we hold it responsible for his death,” said the UK government.
Epibatidine is not naturally found in Russia, nor can dart frogs in captivity produce it. There is no innocent explanation for its presence in Navalny’s system.
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Russia’s use of this poison violates the Chemical Weapons Convention, echoing a pattern of barbaric behaviour from Moscow — from the Skripal Novichok attack in 2018 to repeated chemical weapon use in Ukraine.
“Time and again, the Russian state shows the depths it is willing to go to terrorise people and undermine democracy,” said the UK government.
Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper said on Saturday, “Since Yulia Navalnaya announced the loss of her husband here in Munich two years ago, the UK has pursued the truth of Alexei Navalny’s death with fierce determination
“Only the Russian Government had the means, motive and opportunity to deploy this lethal toxin against Alexei Navalny during his imprisonment in Russia.
Today, beside his widow, the UK is shining a light on the Kremlin’s barbaric plot to silence his voice.
Russia saw Navalny as a threat. By using this form of poison the Russian state demonstrated the despicable tools it has at its disposal and the overwhelming fear it has of political opposition.”
The UK worked alongside Sweden, France, the Netherlands, and Germany to uncover the truth and has reported Russia to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
Despite claiming to destroy chemical weapons in 2017, Russia continues to develop them secretly, and has not renounced biological weapons as required under international treaties.
“The Kremlin believes it can develop these weapons covertly and without consequences. They are mistaken. The UK knows what Russia is doing and will expose and combat this activity at every opportunity.”
At the Munich Security Conference, the UK Foreign Secretary met with Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, to reflect on his enduring legacy and the painstaking forensic work behind today’s announcement.
Russia murdered its own citizen with poison, flaunting international law. The UK and its European partners will hold Moscow accountable, and continue to stand with human rights defenders in Russia.
