During the Munich Security Conference, five European countries, including Britain, France, and Germany, publicly accused Russia of the poisoning of Alexei Navalny. This assertion emerged after analyses of Navalny's body samples indicated the presence of a rare and lethal toxin. Navalny, a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin, died in an Arctic prison in February 2024 while serving a lengthy prison sentence for politically motivated charges.

The joint statement from the United Kingdom, Sweden, France, Germany, and the Netherlands asserted their confidence in the findings regarding Navalny's death, suggesting a deliberate act of state violence. The use of such a toxin is particularly alarming as it reflects a brutal approach to silencing dissent and challenges to the authoritarian regime. The European nations emphasized the need for accountability and expressed solidarity with Navalny's family and supporters.

This incident has further strained relations between Russia and the West, with calls for increased sanctions and measures to hold the Russian government accountable for its actions. The implications of this accusation may lead to a significant geopolitical shift as European nations rally for justice and confront the growing threats posed by state-sponsored political repression.