MOSCOW, Feb 16 — The Kremlin said Monday that it “strongly rejected” an assessment by five European countries that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died from...
Britain, Sweden, France, Germany and the Netherlands issued a joint statement on Saturday saying they believed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny had been poisoned with epibatidine — a toxin found in poison dart frogs — and that the Russian state had the ‘means, motive and opportunity’ to administer it.
— Dawid Zuchowicz/Agencja Wyborcza.pl handout pic via Reutersand enjoy FREE RM10 & when you sign up using code VERSAMM10 with min. cash of RM100 today! T&Cs apply.MOSCOW, Feb 16 — The Kremlin said Monday that it “strongly rejected” an assessment by five European countries that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died from poisoning two years ago, as his supporters marked the anniversary of his death in prison. Navalny, a charismatic anti-corruption campaigner who rallied hundreds of thousands to the streets in protest at the Russian leadership, was Russian President Vladimir Putin’s fiercest domestic opponent for years. He died in an Arctic prison colony in February 2024 while serving a 19-year sentence for “extremism”, a charge that he and his supporters say was punishment for his opposition work. Britain, Sweden, France, Germany and the Netherlands issued a joint statement on Saturday saying they believed he had been poisoned with epibatidine — a toxin found in poison dart frogs — and that the Russian state had the “means, motive and opportunity” to administer it. “We naturally do not accept such accusations. We disagree with them. We consider them biased and baseless,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, including AFP, during a daily briefing call.Dozens of people visited his grave in Moscow early Monday, among them foreign diplomats, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.Russian authorities designated Navalny and his organisation “extremist” before his death, and anyone who mentions him or his exiled anti-corruption foundation are liable for prosecution. Navalny, a Yale-educated lawyer, was the most widely known Russian opposition figure and galvanised thousands of young people to protest against Putin.Navalny’s mother Lyudmila told reporters she felt vindicated by the European statement and called for those responsible to be held accountable. “This confirms what we knew from the very beginning. We knew that our son did not simply die in prison, he was murdered,” she said outside the cemetery where he was buried in Moscow. “I think it will take some time, but we will find out who did it. Of course, we want this to happen in our country, and we want justice to prevail,” she added. Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnya, said on Saturday it was now “science proven” that her husband had been murdered. She had previously said in September that laboratory analysis of smuggled biological samples found that her husband was poisoned.Experts have said the toxin can also be produced synthetically, instead of extracting it directly from the frog itself.Britain’s foreign office said the poison is not found naturally in Russia and that “only the Russian state had the means, motive and opportunity to deploy this lethal toxin.”Since Navalny’s death, Russia’s opposition has remained largely exiled and fragmented. Navalny’s widow Yulia vowed to take the mantle of Russia’s opposition in the wake of his death but has struggled to galvanise widespread support. Inside Russia, Moscow has intensified a crackdown on anybody who had links with the late opposition leader. In addition to targeting his allies and backers, photographers who covered his court hearings and lawyers who represented him at trial have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms. — AFP
Epibatidine Yulia Navalnya Russian Opposition Poison Dart Frogs Kremlin
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
A new study reveals how much stranded passengers spend at airports.WhatsApp won't let you delete Meta's AI from the chat messenger, but officials in the European Union may be able to let you at least pick a more familiar AI assistant.
Read more »
Qabil Irfan Azlan to Race in European Moto4 Cup in 2026Young Malaysian rider Qabil Irfan Azlan will compete in the 2026 European Moto4 Cup with the MLav Junior Team, according to SIC Racing team manager Zulfahmi Khairuddin. Despite winning the 2025 ESBK Talent Championship, finding the right European team was a challenging process. The team prioritized a competitive environment for Qabil's development, leading them to MLav, owned by Michael Laverty. Qabil is also confident in Zulfahmi's guidance and is focused on training and performing well.
Read more »
Poland, Croatia, Portugal top teams at European Futsal Championship for PriestsChristian News,World Christian News,Malaysia Church,Religion Christianity
Read more »
France shock Denmark for European title to add new twist to Thomas Cup raceTroubled French games giant Ubisoft will strive to project confidence this weekend with a massive esports event for its shooter 'Rainbow Six Siege', while hoping a reorganisation and expansion to China can keep the money rolling in.
Read more »
Ubisoft targets new decade of 'Rainbow 6' with China expansionPETALING JAYA: The Malaysian camp may need to tread carefully ahead of the Thomas Cup in April in Horsens as a new contender has emerged, with France making history by clinching the European title for the first time.
Read more »
Customs Thwarts Drug Smuggling Attempt at KLIA, Seizes RM1.4 Million Worth of DrugsRoyal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) foiled an attempt to smuggle over RM1.419 million worth of marijuana and cocaine to Europe at the Mail and Courier Center, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) last month. The seizures included 16.057 kilograms of marijuana and approximately 57 grams of cocaine. Investigations revealed the drugs were likely intended for export to two European countries and that the smugglers used mail and courier services, declaring the packages as gifts to evade authorities. The cases are under investigation under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Read more »