In a joint statement released during the Munich Security Conference, five countries—Britain, Sweden, France, Germany, and the Netherlands—blamed the Russian authorities for the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. They indicated that laboratory analyses of samples taken from Navalny's body conclusively demonstrated poisoning by a lethal toxin. Specifically, the presence of 'epibatidine,' a toxin associated with certain South American poison dart frogs, was noted, and it is absent in nature within Russia. This finding bolsters their belief that Navalny was murdered while in custody in a Russian prison.

The five nations condemned Russia for its persistent disregard for international law and commitments outlined in the Chemical Weapons Convention. They asserted that the recent findings make it imperative to hold Russia accountable for its recurring violations, including those under both chemical and biological weapons treaties. The statement highlighted a growing collective concern about the implications of state-sponsored poisoning and the need for stronger mechanisms to enforce accountability international.

Julia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, attended the conference in Munich and remarked that the available evidence now clearly indicates that her husband was murdered. Her comments underscore the personal impact of the accusations and the stakes involved in the wider geopolitical conflict, as the call for justice for Navalny intersects with broader discussions on human rights violations in Russia. The accusations could heighten tensions between the concerned nations and Russia, possibly leading to further sanctions or diplomatic repercussions.