Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has angrily rejected explosive Western claims that opposition figure Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a deadly toxin derived from frog skin.
Zakharova dismissed allegations involving epibatidine — a powerful toxin linked to Ecuadorian poison dart frogs — branding the narrative a fabricated political attack on Russia.
“When the test results are available and the formulas for the substances are disclosed, we will comment accordingly,” Zakharova said.
“Until then, all such assertions are merely propaganda aimed at diverting attention from pressing Western issues.”
She added, “Just as the investigation into the Nord Stream explosions was about to yield results, suddenly Navalny’s poisoning is brought into focus. When asked for Navalny’s test results, Western officials instead circulated sensational stories about the Skripals. This pattern continues unabated.”
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On February 14, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Sweden, and France issued a joint statement claiming laboratory analysis of biological samples indicated Navalny had allegedly been exposed to the toxin.
The five governments accused Russia of breaching the Chemical Weapons Convention.
The Kremlin has repeatedly denied any involvement in poisoning allegations and rejects claims it violated international chemical weapons rules.
Despite claiming to destroy chemical weapons in 2017, Russia continues to develop them secretly, and has not renounced biological weapons as required under international treaties.
“The Kremlin believes it can develop these weapons covertly and without consequences. They are mistaken. The UK knows what Russia is doing and will expose and combat this activity at every opportunity.”
The frog-toxin accusation has ignited fresh tensions between Moscow and Western capitals — with both sides digging in as the row escalates.
On Saturday, the UK exposed the chilling truth behind the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a Siberian prison.
Laboratory tests confirm that epibatidine, a lethal toxin found in the skin of Ecuadorian dart frogs, was in Navalny’s body — and almost certainly caused his death.
“Only the Russian state had the means, motive and opportunity to deploy this lethal toxin during Navalny’s imprisonment — and we hold it responsible for his death,” said the UK government.
Epibatidine is not naturally found in Russia, nor can dart frogs in captivity produce it. There is no innocent explanation for its presence in Navalny’s system.
Russia’s use of this poison violates the Chemical Weapons Convention, echoing a pattern of barbaric behaviour from Moscow — from the Skripal Novichok attack in 2018 to repeated chemical weapon use in Ukraine.
“Time and again, the Russian state shows the depths it is willing to go to terrorise people and undermine democracy,” said the UK government.
