Overview
- Analyses conducted in the UK, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands conclusively found epibatidine in samples taken from Alexei Navalny’s body.
- The governments assert only the Russian state had the means, motive and opportunity during his imprisonment and hold it responsible, while Moscow maintains he died of natural causes.
- Yulia Navalnaya announced the finding at the Munich Security Conference, calling it proof her husband was poisoned.
- Officials say epibatidine is a potent neurotoxin from South American dart frogs that is not found naturally in Russia and may have been synthesized, with the method of delivery still unknown.
- The allies have notified the OPCW of an alleged treaty violation and UK media report that Porton Down scientists played a key role in identifying the toxin.