Five European nations, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands, have accused Russia of assassinating opposition leader Alexey Navalny in 2024 using a poison derived from the Ecuadorian dart frog. Lab results from a sample taken from Navalny's body confirmed the presence of epibatidine, a lethal toxin found in the skin of the frog, according to a statement released on Saturday.
Navalny, a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin, had crusaded against official corruption and organized anti-Kremlin protests. The UK and its allies have described the act as "barbaric," highlighting the use of a neurotoxin classified as a chemical weapon. According to Sky News, the poison is believed to have been manufactured in a laboratory, rather than directly extracted from the frogs.
The poison is reportedly 200 times stronger than morphine, with Germany's foreign minister stating that victims "suffocate in agony," as reported by Sky News. The five European governments released a joint statement on Saturday, confirming the findings.
The Russian state has a history of being accused of using exotic poisons to eliminate its opponents, including the nerve agent Novichok. The investigation into Navalny's death is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as the involved nations continue their inquiries.
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