Navalny's assassination with a rare poison: 5 European countries officially accuse Russia
In a new diplomatic and legal escalation, five major European countries – Britain, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands – have formally and directly accused the Russian authorities of being behind the murder of prominent Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny in prison in 2024. This joint announcement came in a statement issued on Saturday on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, coinciding with the second anniversary of the death of one of the fiercest critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Details of the rare toxic substance
The joint European statement was based on the results of meticulous and complex laboratory investigations, which revealed traces of a very rare toxic substance in biological samples taken from Navalny's body. The British Foreign Office explained that the analyses proved the toxin used was a deadly type commonly found in the skin of Ecuadorian dart frogs. The five countries asserted that the use of this substance was not accidental, but rather the result of a "systematic and coordinated act" by the Russian state to eliminate Navalny, fearing his growing political influence even while imprisoned.
Historical context: Navalny and the Kremlin's hostility
This revelation brings to mind a long history of conflict between Navalny and the Kremlin. Navalny survived a previous assassination attempt in 2020 using the nerve agent Novichok, after which he received treatment in Germany before courageously returning to Moscow in January 2021, only to be arrested upon arrival. His death in prison in 2024 shocked the international community, seen at the time as a devastating blow to the Russian opposition and an attempt to silence voices calling for democracy and fighting corruption in Russia.
International repercussions and UN action
The significance of this announcement extends beyond mere political indictment; it encompasses international legal proceedings. Britain has declared its intention to inform the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) of these findings, describing the incident as a "flagrant violation" of international conventions by Russia. Observers suggest this move could further isolate Moscow internationally and pave the way for a new round of sanctions, particularly given that the use of biological or chemical agents in political assassinations constitutes a grave breach of international law.
For her part, Yulia Navalnya, the widow of the late opposition leader, commented on these findings, saying that what she stated two years ago about Putin's direct responsibility for her husband's murder has been "proven by science today," thus placing the international community before its responsibilities to hold the perpetrators accountable and ensure that they do not escape punishment.
