{"id":56721,"date":"2026-02-14T12:33:28","date_gmt":"2026-02-14T17:33:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/russian-opposition-leader-alexei-navalny-killed-using-poison-from-south-american-dart-frog-foreign-offices-allege\/14\/02\/2026\/"},"modified":"2026-02-14T12:33:28","modified_gmt":"2026-02-14T17:33:28","slug":"russian-opposition-leader-alexei-navalny-killed-using-poison-from-south-american-dart-frog-foreign-offices-allege","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/russian-opposition-leader-alexei-navalny-killed-using-poison-from-south-american-dart-frog-foreign-offices-allege\/14\/02\/2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny Killed Using Poison from South American Dart Frog, Foreign Offices Allege"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Alexei Navalny died of poison epibatidine, which comes from a dart frog not native to Russia, according to a joint press release\u00a0from five European governments<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Russia \u201chad the means, motive and opportunity to administer this poison to him,&#8221; the Feb. 14 press release from the countries alleged<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Nalany, a longtime critic and political opponent of Vladimir Putin, died in an Arctic penal colony on Feb. 16, 2024<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Two years after <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/bono-pays-tribute-to-alexei-navalny-during-u2-sphere-residency-show-las-vegas-8585000\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Alexei Navalny;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Alexei Navalny<\/a>&#8216;s sudden death, several foreign governments are \u201cconfident\u201d he died not of natural causes, but from poison.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Nalany, a longtime critic and political opponent of Russian President <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tag\/vladimir-putin\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Vladimir Putin;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Vladimir Putin<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/alexei-navalny-russian-opposition-leader-sudden-death-prison-8584208\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:died in an Arctic penal colony;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">died in an Arctic penal colony<\/a> on Feb. 16, 2024, at the age of 47.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">On Saturday, Feb. 14, the U.K. Foreign Office alleged in a joint <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/joint-statement-by-the-uk-sweden-france-germany-and-the-netherlands-on-alexei-navalnys-death\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:press release;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">press release<\/a> with four other European countries that \u201cpoisoning was highly likely the cause of his death.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThe U.K., Sweden, France, Germany and The Netherlands are confident that Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a lethal toxin,\u201d stated the press release from the U.K. Foreign Office and Yvette Cooper, the country&#8217;s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Foreign Office said that epibatidine was found in samples taken from the late Russian opposition leader. It added that the use of the neurotoxin is a breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\"><i>Alexei Navalny in 2019 <\/i><\/p>\n<p>Sefa Karacan\/Anadolu Agency via Getty<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cEpibatidine is a toxin found in poison dart frogs in South America. It is not found naturally in Russia,\u201d the release said. \u201cRussia 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Foreign Office also alleged that because Navalny died behind bars \u2014 he was serving a 19-year sentence on extremism charges that many viewed as politically motivated \u2014 Russia \u201chad the means, motive and opportunity to administer this poison to him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">It is not clear how exactly the toxin would have allegedly been administered to the then-prisoner.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to PEOPLE\u2019s request for comment on Saturday, Feb. 14.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Stock image of a poisonous frog Getty\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/HMzECHFX9qBJ8xKfTQlqNw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/379f3011de8cc13cb466913b9119abec\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\"><i>Stock image of a poisonous frog <\/i><\/p>\n<p>Getty<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cRussia\u2019s repeated disregard for international law and the Chemical Weapons Convention is clear,\u201d the Foreign Office said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Citing other alleged instances of Russia\u2019s use of nerve agent novichok, the government office added, \u201cThese latest findings once again underline the need to hold Russia accountable for its repeated violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention and, in this instance, the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The U.K. has informed the Organization on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons of Russia&#8217;s alleged breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention, according to the Feb. 14 release.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWe are further concerned that Russia did not destroy all of its chemical weapons,\u201d the Foreign Office concluded. \u201cWe and our partners will make use of all policy levers at our disposal to continue to hold Russia to account.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/people-news-daily-newsletter-sign-up-8692701\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:PEOPLE's free daily newsletter;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">PEOPLE&#8217;s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Russian President Vladimir Putin Vyacheslav PROKOFYEV \/ POOL \/ AFP via Getty\u00a0\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/8ZY_4ME9QHVQbrtc.H8tkA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/32463a1be4339f0412e4e39ee5977722\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\"><i>Russian President Vladimir Putin <\/i><\/p>\n<p>Vyacheslav PROKOFYEV \/ POOL \/ AFP via Getty <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Nalany\u2019s wife, Yulia Navalnaya, who has long maintained that her husband was killed by poisoning, released a statement after the press release went public.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI was certain from the first day that my husband had been poisoned, but now there is proof: Putin killed Alexei with chemical weapon,\u201d Navalnaya alleged, in part, in an <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/yulia_navalnaya\/status\/2022652772500316538?s=20\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:X post;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">X post<\/a> translated from Russian.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI am grateful to the European states for the meticulous work they carried out over two years and for uncovering the truth,&#8221; the widow of the late opposition leader continued.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cVladimir Putin is a murderer,\u201d she further alleged. \u201cHe must be held accountable for all his crimes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Read the original article on <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/alexei-navalny-poisoned-with-toxin-from-dart-frog-foreign-offices-allege-11906968\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:People;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">People<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/articles\/russian-opposition-leader-alexei-navalny-172152952.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEED TO KNOW Alexei Navalny died of poison epibatidine, which comes from a dart frog not native to Russia, according to a<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/russian-opposition-leader-alexei-navalny-killed-using-poison-from-south-american-dart-frog-foreign-offices-allege\/14\/02\/2026\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":56722,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/W1karxJTz928H0TOp1FNAg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyMDA7aD04MDA7Y2Y9d2VicA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/5a8671643c048f737e28fcb868262b03","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56721"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56721"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56721\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56721"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56721"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56721"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}