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Russian authorities have been accused of using a rare poison derived from a South American frog to kill opposition leader Alexey Navalny, according to a joint statement from five European nations that has intensified diplomatic tensions with Moscow.
Independent laboratories in Britain, Sweden, France, Germany, and the Netherlands identified epibatidine—a potent neurotoxin found in certain species of poison dart frogs—in biological samples smuggled out of Russia after Navalny’s death on February 14, 2026, The Insider reported.
The five European nations formally accused Russia of violating the Chemical Weapons Convention, describing the poisoning as a deliberate act by state authorities against a political opponent. Their coordinated announcement came during the Munich Security Conference, significantly elevating international pressure on the Kremlin.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the findings as “troubling” and stated that Washington had “no reason to question” the European assessment. “We obviously are aware of the report… and certainly we don’t have any reason to question it,” Rubio told reporters during a visit to Slovakia.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued a particularly strong condemnation, calling the poisoning “a cowardly act from a frightened leader” and describing Russia as a “terrorist state, relying on terrorist methods.”
Russian officials immediately rejected the accusations. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova dismissed the joint statement as a diversionary tactic, challenging the European countries to release detailed test results. “Show us the test results. Show us the chemical formulas. Then we’ll comment. Without that, all this talk is just a planted story meant to distract from the West’s real problems,” Zakharova said.
The Russian embassy in London went further, characterizing the announcement as a “political pageant” and condemning what it called “necro-propaganda” that amounted to “a mockery of the dead.”
According to toxicologist Ismail Efendiev, epibatidine is extremely lethal even in microscopic amounts. “We’re talking about hundredths or even thousandths of a gram. Put simply, a deadly dose might be so tiny you wouldn’t even see it,” he explained. Efendiev emphasized that the poison can only be produced in specialized government laboratories, ruling out any possibility of home production.
Unlike Navalny’s previous poisoning in 2020, when he was treated with atropine after collapsing on a plane, Efendiev noted that this substance would be ineffective against epibatidine. The toxin’s slow breakdown in the body, however, made it easier for laboratories to detect even after death.
State-controlled Russian media largely ignored the accusations, with major television networks omitting any mention of the findings in their evening broadcasts, according to independent outlet Agentstvo. Several Russian publications only addressed the story after Zakharova’s statement, focusing primarily on her denial rather than the accusations themselves.
Leonid Volkov, director of political projects for Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, described the findings as validation after Russian officials had initially claimed Navalny died from natural causes. “Every propagandist was trying to outdo the others, inventing ‘natural causes,’ ‘blood clots,’ and ‘heart attacks’ off the top of their heads like they always do. They laughed right in our faces,” Volkov said.
He characterized the scientific confirmation as an important milestone, though far from a complete victory. “We’re still infinitely far from victory; only a tiny step has been taken. But we took it,” Volkov stated.
The case represents a significant escalation in international accusations about Russian state involvement in political assassinations and comes amid already strained relations between Moscow and Western nations over various geopolitical conflicts and human rights concerns.
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14 Comments
The use of a rare, deadly neurotoxin like epibatidine is deeply disturbing, if proven true. This would mark a dangerous new frontier in state-sponsored assassination tactics. I’m curious to see how the international community responds.
Absolutely. This crosses a major red line and demands a firm, coordinated rebuke from the West. The Kremlin must be held accountable if these allegations are substantiated.
If the reports of a rare neurotoxin being used are accurate, this represents an extremely dangerous escalation. The potential for this type of chemical weapon to be deployed more widely is deeply concerning. I hope the international community takes strong action in response.
Fascinating if true. Epibatidine is an incredibly potent neurotoxin – it’s shocking if Russia is accused of using such an exotic poison. I wonder what the geopolitical fallout will be from these allegations.
Agreed, this is a very serious escalation if confirmed. The international community will likely respond forcefully to such a brazen violation of chemical weapons protocols.
This is a deeply troubling situation. The use of a rare, deadly neurotoxin like epibatidine, if proven true, represents a shocking escalation in Russia’s tactics against political opponents. I hope the international community responds with the gravity this situation demands.
I agree, the stakes here are incredibly high. A strong, coordinated international response will be critical to deter future such incidents and uphold global norms against chemical weapons use.
While the European findings are alarming, I’m hesitant to rush to judgment without a more thorough, independent investigation. Geopolitical tensions could easily lead to exaggeration or distortion of the facts here. A measured, fact-based approach is critical.
That’s a fair perspective. Given the high stakes, it’s prudent to withhold final conclusions until all evidence can be properly scrutinized. Maintaining objectivity will be key in this charged environment.
Wow, this is a shocking development. The use of such a potent and exotic poison agent, if true, is a major breach of international norms. I’m curious to see how Russia attempts to defend itself against these serious allegations.
Agreed, Russia will be hard-pressed to provide a credible explanation for the presence of this specific neurotoxin. Their dismissal of the findings as “necro-propaganda” seems like a weak attempt to deflect.
This is a complex and troubling situation. While the evidence of Navalny’s poisoning seems clear, Russia’s dismissal of the findings as “necro-propaganda” is concerning. I hope an impartial investigation can get to the bottom of what happened.
You raise a good point. An objective, multilateral inquiry would be ideal to uncover the truth and prevent further politicization of this incident.
While the evidence presented is certainly concerning, I think it’s important to withhold judgment until a truly independent investigation can be conducted. Geopolitical tensions often lead to exaggeration or distortion of facts, so I’d urge caution in drawing firm conclusions at this stage.