Britain blames Russia for ‘barbaric’ death of Vladimir Putin critic using dart frog toxin

However, it remains unclear how the neurotoxin – which is classed as a chemical weapon – could have been administered by Putin’s team.

This morning, two days before the two-year anniversary of his death, the Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said: “Since Yulia Navalnaya announced the loss of her husband here in Munich two years ago, the UK has pursued the truth of Alexei Navalny’s death with fierce determination

“Only the Russian Government had the means, motive and opportunity to deploy this lethal toxin against Alexei Navalny during his imprisonment in Russia.

“Today, beside his widow, the UK is shining a light on the Kremlin’s barbaric plot to silence his voice.

“Russia saw Navalny as a threat. By using this form of poison the Russian state demonstrated the despicable tools it has at its disposal and the overwhelming fear it has of political opposition.”

The Foreign Office added: “Epibatidine can be found naturally in dart frogs in the wild in South America. Dart frogs in captivity do not produce this toxin and it is not found naturally in Russia.

“There is no innocent explanation for its presence in Navalny’s body.”

The Foreign Office condemned Moscow for having “brazenly developed and deployed this poison in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention”.

It added: “Russia’s egregious and irresponsible actions, including its barbaric full-scale invasion of Ukraine continue to threaten our shared security.

“Time and again the Russian state shows the depths it is willing to go to terrorise people and undermine democracy.”

Ms Cooper’s revelation came just hours after her boss Sir Keir Starmer told European leaders he wanted to bolster their military and defence alliance with Russia proving “its appetite for aggression”.

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