Russia Accused of Poisoning Navalny with Rare Toxin

Five European countries have accused Russia of poisoning opposition leader Alexei Navalny with a rare and deadly toxin derived from a poison dart frog. The announcement was made by foreign ministers on Saturday, following laboratory analyses that found a lethal neurotoxin in Navalny's body, which is not naturally occurring in Russia.

The joint statement emphasized that this act violates the Chemical Weapons Convention. Navalny, an outspoken critic of the Kremlin, had built a reputation for fighting official corruption and led massive protests against the government.

He was imprisoned for 19 years after returning to Russia in 2021. His widow, Navalnaya, attended the announcement marking the second anniversary of her husband's death.

Two independent labs had previously confirmed that he was poisoned. European scientists suspect that Russia synthesized the toxin in a laboratory, similar to a nerve agent used in a 2020 attack, which the Kremlin has denied involvement in.

The German Foreign Minister explained that the lengthy analysis process contributed to the delay in reporting the findings.