Russia tells European nations who accuse it of poisoning Navalny with dart frog toxin to provide proof


Tributes to late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny are left outside the Russian Embassy, on the second anniversary of his death and after a joint statement from Britain, Sweden, France, Germany and The Netherlands that he was killed with Epibatidine, a toxin found in poison dart frogs in South America, in Berlin, Germany, February 16, 2026. REUTERS/Christian Mang

MOSCOW, Feb 18 (Reuters) - ⁠Russia is demanding that European countries ⁠who accused Moscow of poisoning Kremlin critic ‌Alexei Navalny with a dart frog toxin provide concrete data to support their allegation, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria ​Zakharova said on Wednesday.

Britain, France, ⁠Germany, Sweden and the ⁠Netherlands said on Saturday that analyses of samples ⁠from ‌Navalny's body had confirmed the presence of epibatidine, a toxin found in ⁠poison dart frogs in South America ​and not ‌found naturally in Russia. They said Moscow ⁠had the "means, ​motive and opportunity" to administer the poison to him.

"All the accusations against Russia were of ⁠the 'highly likely' variety. There were no ​specific details. It was purely a proclamation to become the opening act of the Munich (security) ⁠conference and to overshadow the Epstein files," Zakharova told a news briefing on Wednesday.

"We demand they hand over concrete data on this issue."

The ​Kremlin flatly rejected the ⁠European accusations, while Yulia Navalnaya, the late politician's ​widow, said the truth ‌about her husband's death had ​finally been disclosed.

(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov, Writing by Felix LightEditing by Andrew Osborn)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

Juergen Habermas, philosopher, dies at age 96, publisher says
Protesters in Cuba attack Communist party office in rare riot over blackouts
Trump says most planes targeted in attack on Saudi Arabia base had little damage
UAE energy site on fire following drone attack
New Prince Harry book a 'deranged conspiracy', his spokesperson says
Venezuela's students reclaim the streets after years of oppression
Ukrainian drones strike oil refinery, port in Russia's Krasnodar region
Four killed in Russian air attack on Ukraine
Hamas urges Iran to stop targeting neighbouring countries
Thai parliament to open amid scrutiny over election ballots

Others Also Read