UK says Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny poisoned with dart frog toxin in prison
'Deadly toxin found in the skin of Ecuador dart frogs (epibatidine) was found in samples from Alexei Navalny’s body and highly likely resulted in his death,' says Foreign Office
Greater London
LONDON
The British government said Saturday it has confirmed that Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny’s death in prison in 2024 came after he was poisoned with dart frog toxin.
"UK and partners are today exposing the tragic circumstances surrounding Alexei Navalny's death and have confirmed there was poison found in samples from his body," the Foreign Office said in a statement.
It noted that consistent, collaborative work has confirmed through laboratory testing that the deadly toxin found in the skin of Ecuador dart frogs (epibatidine) was found in samples from Alexei Navalny’s body and highly likely resulted in his death.
Epibatidine can be found naturally in dart frogs in the wild in South America, said the statement, mentioning that dart frogs in captivity do not produce this toxin and it is not found naturally in Russia.
"There is no innocent explanation for its presence in Navalny’s body," the office added.
Moscow announced Navalny’s death in a Siberia prison in February 2024 while he was serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism.
Russia's Federal Prison Service said the 47-year-old opposition figure "felt bad" after a walk and lost consciousness "almost immediately."
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