On the second anniversary of Alexei Navalny's death, a joint statement from five European countries has confirmed that he was poisoned by the Kremlin using epibatidine, a rare and lethal toxin derived from dart frogs. This revelation aligns with the assertions made by Navalny's mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, who stated, 'He was murdered,' emphasizing that her son did not 'simply die in prison.' The UK Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has underscored the seriousness of these allegations, suggesting that the choice of such an exotic poison may have been intended to send a message, although experts note that the intent remains ambiguous (Global News, February 16, 2026; The Guardian, February 16, 2026). The toxin, which can cause muscle paralysis and asphyxiation, was found in Navalny's body, challenging Russia's official account of his death (New York Times, February 16, 2026; Euronews, February 16, 2026).