On February 16, 2026, the Kremlin addressed accusations from five European countries—Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands—that Russia had poisoned Alexei Navalny, leading to his death in an Arctic penal colony in February 2024. The European nations claimed that analyses showed the presence of epibatidine, a potent neurotoxin derived from poison dart frogs, indicating deliberate poisoning.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded by strongly categorizing the allegations as "not based on anything" and rejected them as unfounded and biased. Peskov emphasized that Russia does not accept such accusations, calling them part of a Western information campaign aimed at diverting attention from pressing issues affecting the West.
Navalny, a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin, died aged 47 under contentious circumstances while serving a lengthy prison sentence. Reports indicated that he collapsed after claiming to feel unwell during a walk in the high-security facility where he was incarcerated. Russian authorities initially suggested natural causes for his death, a claim that Navalny’s supporters, including his widow, Yulia Navalnaya, have vehemently challenged, asserting that he was murdered.
The joint statement from the European governments asserts that forensic analyses conclusively detected the toxin, which is not found naturally in Russian environments. They argued that the only entity with the means and opportunity to carry out such an assault would be the Russian state.
Moscow's response has been consistent: it denies involvement in the deaths of its critics and characterizes these assertions as propaganda. Russian authorities have labeled Navalny's movement as extremist and have undertaken legal actions against his supporters. The ongoing accusations add another layer of tension between Russia and the West as concerns rise regarding the use of chemical agents in targeted attacks against political dissenters.
The Kremlin's firm denial underscores the enduring geopolitical tensions and the legacy of high-profile poisoning cases that have marred Russia's international relationships in recent years.