Five European Nations Accuse Russia of Killing Navalny with Frog Toxin
In February 2024, Alexei Navalny died in a Russian penal colony, with official reports citing natural causes. However, five European nations claim that poisoning is likely the reason for his death. This assertion comes in a joint statement made on Saturday.
Accusations of Poisoning
The nations involved—Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom—gathered information suggesting that Russian authorities may have utilized frog toxin in the alleged poisoning. British scientists from Porton Down, a prominent laboratory, were instrumental in these findings.
Details Surrounding Navalny’s Death
Navalny, a staunch critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was seen just a day before his death attending a court hearing. Notably, he appeared to be in good spirits, even making jokes.
Public Response and Statements
Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny’s widow, made the joint findings public during a press conference at the Munich Security Conference. She was joined by foreign ministers from the aforementioned countries.
- The U.K. described Navalny’s death as “brutal and barbaric.”
- The nations have alerted the Director General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons regarding the alleged violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention by Russia.
Wider Implications of Russian Behavior
The U.K.’s statement emphasized that Navalny’s death aligns with a concerning trend of aggressive actions by Russia. This pattern has included the 2018 use of Novichok in the U.K. that resulted in a civilian fatality, and ongoing reports of Russian forces employing chemical weapons in Ukraine.
Russia’s Response
As of this writing, the Russian foreign ministry had not responded to requests for comment regarding these serious allegations.
The implications of these accusations extend beyond Navalny and point to significant international concerns regarding Russia’s adherence to chemical weapon treaties.
