Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, has refuted a statement made by five European countries which alleged that Alexei Navalny was poisoned with the toxin epibatidine while in a penal colony. She characterized the claim as 'disinformation' aimed at diverting attention from more pressing issues facing the West and stressed that it was a mockery of the deceased. Zakharova highlighted the hypocrisy of the timing, noting that these claims came at a moment when the West should be focusing on the ongoing investigation into the Nord Stream incident.

In her comments to RBC, a Russian news agency with ties to the Kremlin, Zakharova emphasized the need for concrete evidence before accepting accusations regarding Navalny's poisoning. She stated that without the availability of test results and chemical analyses, the discussions surrounding his poisoning are baseless and merely serve to create sensational headlines. The Russian government has consistently denied involvement in such allegations and portrays them as part of a larger narrative constructed by Western nations to undermine Russia's credibility.

This incident not only highlights the ongoing tensions between Russia and the West but also reflects the Kremlin's broader strategy of countering claims of wrongdoing with accusations of disinformation against Western media. The implications of such statements may also serve to reinforce domestic support for the Russian government by portraying it as a victim of foreign aggression and manipulation.