On February 14, 2024, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands jointly accused Russia of poisoning the political opposition leader Alexei Navalny in prison with a rare toxin derived from Ecuadorian dart frogs. Navalny, a staunch critic of President Vladimir Putin, tragically died on February 16, 2024, while serving a 19-year sentence in a facility located in the Arctic region. Reports emerged that the toxin epibatidine was discovered in samples taken from him, leading the countries to conclude that this substance likely caused his death.

The five nations expressed their concerns on the anniversary of Navalny's passing, indicating that the Russian state claimed he died of natural causes. However, they argued that the extreme toxicity of epibatidine, coupled with symptoms reported prior to his death, suggests that poisoning was indeed the likely cause. Their findings were presented during a joint statement at the Munich Security Conference, showing a united front against Russia's alleged involvement in the incident.

In a separate statement, the UK Foreign Office emphasized that only the Russian state had both the capacity and motive to carry out such an action. This polarization between Russia and Western nations adds to the already tense geopolitical climate, especially concerning human rights violations and political opposition in authoritarian regimes. As the investigation continues, it raises further questions about the treatment of political dissidents in Russia and the international community's response to such allegations.