A joint statement by the governments of the United Kingdom, Sweden, France, Germany, and The Netherlands has concluded that Russian dissident Alexei Navalny was murdered through poisoning with a lethal toxin known as epibatidine, derived from South American poison dart frogs. This finding came after careful analysis of samples taken from Navalny's body, which indicated that poisoning was likely given the symptoms he exhibited before his death in a Russian prison.

The countries assert that Russia claimed Navalny's death was due to natural causes, but the characteristics of epibatidine suggest otherwise. The rarity of this toxin's natural occurrence in Russia further raises suspicions about the involvement of the Russian government, which had both the actual capacity and motivation to carry out such an act against a prominent political opponent of President Vladimir Putin.

Navalny’s death is seen as a significant blow to the landscape of political dissent in Russia, as he was known for his strong opposition to Putin and for mobilizing protests against corruption and authoritarianism. This incident is likely to escalate tensions between Russia and the involved European nations, prompting calls for increased scrutiny and possibly more severe diplomatic consequences against the Kremlin in the future.