🕯️ European governments say laboratory testing and an independent forensic analysis found the neurotoxin epibatidine in samples from Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in a Russian prison in February 2024 — a claim that challenges Russia’s official account of his death 451. Epibatidine is often described as a “frog toxin” because it’s associated with poison dart frogs, but experts quoted in the coverage note it can also be made synthetically, meaning it wouldn’t need to come from an animal 13.
Russia has rejected the allegation. The Kremlin and Russian diplomats called the claims false and demanded specific evidence, while supporters and relatives commemorated Navalny at his Moscow grave on the second anniversary of his death under a visible police presence 52678.
Sources
- Alexei Navalny dart frog toxin poisoning: What we know [euronews.com] (2026-02-16)
- West using Navalny poison claim to bury Epstein fallout – Moscow [rt.com] (2026-02-16)
- The frog poison that killed Alexei Navalny likely lab-made [dw.com] (2026-02-16)
- Navalny Was Poisoned With Frog Toxin, European Governments Say [nytimes.com] (2026-02-16)
- Kremlin rejects claim it poisoned Navalny with dart frog toxin [theglobeandmail.com] (2026-02-16)
- Russia marks Navalny grave anniversary amid poison test fallout [euronews.com] (2026-02-16)
- Supporters mourn Alexey Navalny two years after his death [aljazeera.com] (2026-02-16)
- Police filmed everyone. Nobody hid. At Alexey Navalny’s grave, on the second anniversary of his death, his mother stood in the freezing cold and listened. [meduza.io] (2026-02-17)
- Fifteen countries call on Russia to release all political prisoners on the second anniversary of Alexey Navalny’s death [meduza.io] (2026-02-16)
Highlights
- Who made the claim: The UK, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands said tests “conclusively” confirmed epibatidine in Navalny’s samples — and argued that this contradicts Russia’s account of his 2024 prison death 254.
- What the toxin does: Epibatidine, linked in reporting to the Ecuadoran dart frog, can cause muscle paralysis and may lead to death by asphyxiation, according to experts cited in explainers about the compound 1.
- Why the ‘frog toxin’ label can mislead: Coverage notes epibatidine is rare in nature and, based on expert assessments, is more plausibly produced in a lab than extracted from a frog 31.
- Russia’s pushback messaging: Russian officials dismissed the allegation — including calling it a “planted fabrication.” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said it was meant to “hijack the information cycle” and distract from the Epstein files, adding that Moscow expects specific evidence before responding formally 82.
- Cemetery surveillance detail: Reporting from Borisovskoye Cemetery described police waiting nearby and filming everyone who arrived for the anniversary memorial, as people laid flowers and Navalny’s mother attended in freezing conditions 87.
Perspectives
European governments: They said lab findings show epibatidine in Navalny’s body samples and argued this contradicts Russia’s official explanation for his 2024 prison death.
Kremlin / Russian authorities: They rejected the claim that Navalny was poisoned with epibatidine and disputed the European countries’ allegations.
Russian Foreign Ministry: Maria Zakharova said the allegation aimed to “hijack the information cycle” and distract from the Epstein files, and said Moscow expects specific evidence before responding formally.
Navalny’s family and supporters: Relatives and supporters marked the anniversary at his grave and called for answers about how he died, according to video and on-the-ground reports from Moscow.
Timeline
International Reactions
Fifteen-country coalition: Fifteen countries issued a joint call for Russia to release all political prisoners on the second anniversary of Navalny’s death 9.
UK, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands: These governments issued the statement saying testing indicated epibatidine, an allegation Russia denies 2.