The Kremlin on Monday rejected allegations from five European countries that Russian opposition leaderAlexei Navalnywas poisoned before his death, as supporters gathered to mark the anniversary of his passing in custody. Navalny, a prominent anti-corruption campaigner and outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin, died in February 2024 at an Arctic penal colony while serving a 19-year sentence on extremism charges, which he and his allies maintained were politically motivated.
A joint statement from the United Kingdom, Sweden, France, Germany and the Netherlands said they believe Navalny may have been exposed to epibatidine, a highly potent toxin linked to poison dart frogs and argued that the Russian state had both the capability and the motive to deploy it.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the allegation as baseless and politically motivated, firmly denying any state involvement. Meanwhile, supporters, including foreign diplomats, visited Alexei Navalny’s grave in Moscow, with some covering their faces. Russian authorities have previously designated Navalny’s network as extremist, meaning public expressions of support or references to the organisation can carry the risk of prosecution.
Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, said the European findings strengthened her belief that her son was killed and called for those responsible to be held accountable. His widow, Yulia Navalnaya, also said scientific evidence pointed to poisoning.
Epibatidine, a highly potent toxin that can cause severe paralysis and respiratory failure, can also be produced synthetically. European officials did not specify how the substance was allegedly administered.
Russia’s prison service has said Navalny fell ill after a walk and died shortly afterward. Since his death, pressure on figures linked to him has intensified, with several allies, lawyers and journalists facing prison sentences or leaving the country.
Megha Rawat is an Assistant News Editor at Times Now, where she drives the national news narrative with sharp political reporting, election coverage a...View More
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