The Kremlin has dismissed allegations from multiple European countries and the widow of Alexei Navalny, a prominent Russian opposition figure, suggesting that Moscow was responsible for his death via a toxin derived from South American dart frogs.
Over the weekend, officials from the UK, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands joined Yulia Navalnaya in asserting that Navalny, noted as President Vladimir Putin’s leading critic, passed away in an isolated Arctic penal colony after exposure to epibatidine—a toxin reportedly 200 times more potent than morphine.
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, refuted these claims on Monday, labeling the accusations from Navalny’s widow as unfounded.
“We categorically do not accept such accusations. We disagree with them,” stated Peskov. “We consider them to be biased and without foundation. We strongly refute these claims.”
Maria Zakharova, representing the Russian Foreign Ministry, also criticized the allegations, describing them as “propaganda meant to distract from significant issues within the West,” as reported by the TASS state news agency.
Zakharova mentioned that Moscow would be prepared to comment more specifically once the accusing countries offer detailed test results for examination.
Navalny, 47, died on Feb. 16, 2024, with his wife repeatedly alleging that he had been murdered by the Russian state, with the latest testing of his body finally providing the proof she needed.
“Two years. We have attained the truth, and we will also attain justice one day,” Navalnaya wrote on X.
The widow was backed by the five nations that had vowed to help Navalnaya investigate the cause of her husband’s death, with the testing making it clear that the Kremlin was the top suspect.
“Russia claimed that Navalny died of natural causes. But given the toxicity of epibatidine and reported symptoms, poisoning was highly likely the cause of his death,” the countries said in a joint statement.
“Navalny died while held in prison, meaning Russia had the means, motive and opportunity to administer this poison to him,” they added.
“Russia saw Navalny as a threat. By using this form of poison, the Russian state demonstrated the despicable tools it has at its disposal and the overwhelming fear it has of political opposition.”
On Monday, a group of 15 countries — including Australia, New Zealand and Canada — issued a statement calling for Russia to conduct a transparent investigation into Navalny’s death.
While the US did not join either announcement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he does not dispute the findings in Europe.
With Post wires
