Russian chemical attacks

Accusations by five European countries that the Kremlin used toxin from poison dart frogs to kill Alexei Navalny add to a documented pattern of Moscow’s alleged use of toxic agents in targeted attacks

IK-3 penal colony
Moscow
RUSSIA
GERMANY
Berlin
UK
London
Salisbury
Alexei Navalny
Alexander Litvinenko
Sergei Skripal

TOXIC ATTACKS

2006, London: Former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko dies after drinking tea laced with radioactive Polonium-210 at hotel

2018, Salisbury: Former double agent Sergei Skripal and daughter critically ill after poisoning with nerve agent Novichok. British woman later dies after exposure

2020, Berlin: Alexei Navalny survives poisoning on flight to Moscow from Siberian city of Tomsk. German authorities confirm Novichok in blood

Feb 15, 2024, Kharp: Navalny dies in Arctic prison. Analyses of body samples confirm presence of toxic agent epibatidine, UK, France, Germany, Sweden and Netherlands say

EPIBATIDINE

What it is? Highly toxic natural alkaloid found in skin of poison dart frogs in South America, including species such as Anthony’s Poison Arrow Frog (above)

How it works: Between 100 and 200 times more potent than morphine. Acts on nicotinic receptors in nervous system, causing convulsions, paralysis and death by suffocation

Can be synthesised in laboratory, which European officials believe was case in Navalny’s death

Legal and political stakes: Deliberate use would violate 1972 Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention and 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention, treaties signed by Russia

Sources: Reuters, BBC, Axios
Pictures: Getty Images, Newscom
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