Context:

Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader, was reportedly killed by the neurotoxin epibatidine, derived from South American poison dart frogs, according to the UK and several European nations. Traces of the toxin were found in his body, indicating intentional poisoning, as only the Russian state had the capability and motive, the UK Foreign Office stated. The Kremlin rejected these claims, labeling them as Western propaganda. Epibatidine, which is 200 times more potent than morphine, affects the nervous system, leading to severe respiratory failure and death. As Navalny's death raises international tensions, the UK is considering coordinated sanctions against Russia.

Dive Deeper:

• Epibatidine is a potent neurotoxin sourced from the skin of certain dart frogs, particularly Anthony's poison arrow frog found in Ecuador and Peru. This toxin is not naturally produced by frogs in captivity and cannot be found in Russia.

• The toxin acts primarily on nicotinic receptors, causing severe physiological effects such as muscle paralysis and respiratory failure, leading to death by suffocation if administered in sufficient doses.

• Toxicology expert Jill Johnson emphasized the rarity of epibatidine, stating that finding a wild frog capable of producing the toxin is nearly impossible, given its specific dietary needs.

• Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, has consistently maintained that her husband was murdered through poisoning, contradicting Russian claims of natural causes for his death.

• The UK Foreign Office stated that the evidence of epibatidine in Navalny's system suggests deliberate administration, and they are considering further sanctions against Russia as a response to this incident.

• Russian officials, including Kremlin spokesperson Maria Zakharova, dismissed the allegations as 'information campaigns' aimed at deflecting attention from Western issues, while asserting that Navalny's death was not linked to state actions.

• Navalny was imprisoned for three years prior to his death and was transferred to a remote penal colony, where he reportedly collapsed after feeling unwell during a walk.