Amman Today
publish date 2026-02-17 17:24:00
Epibatidine is a rare poison that comes from a frog that lives only in a limited number in Latin American countries. It is believed that this substance was used for poisoning Alexei Navalnyfamous exhibitions To Vladimir Putinwho died in prison on February 16, 2024.
This was confirmed by five European countries following a joint investigation. Representatives of Britain, Sweden, France, Germany and the Netherlands said on Saturday on the sidelines of the Munich International Security Conference that they were “convinced that Navalny died from a “deadly poison.”
From polonium to epibatidine
Laboratory analyzes conducted at a European level showed the presence of traces of “a deadly poison found in the skin of poison dart frogs in Ecuador, “Epibatidine,” in samples of Navalny’s skin. The presidential spokesman refused Russian Dmitry Peskov concluded these conclusions, saying: “We reject these biased accusations that are not based on any real evidence.”
But these results, which were announced during the most important international security conference, shed light globally on the danger of poisonous dart frogs. Thus, this strange poison joins polonium, the radioactive substance used to poison opposition figure Alexander Litvinenko in 2006, as well as Novichok, the nerve poison used in the attempted assassination of former double agent Sergei Skripal in 2018. Each time, Moscow has been accused of being behind these operations.
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Independent Russian media outlet Meduza believes that the symptoms that appeared before Navalny’s death are consistent with the known effects of epibatidine. Exposure to this toxin causes muscle contractions, a type of paralysis, convulsions, slow heart rate, and respiratory failure, as British toxicologist Jill Johnson explained to the BBC.
Over the past two days, several other media outlets, including France 24, have reported on the danger of this poison, “which is 200 times greater than morphine.”
A hidden and deadly poison
Kevin Reliah, an intelligence specialist at Brunal University in London, wonders why Russia would resort to such a strange poison to get rid of Navalny, who was already in its custody? For his part, researcher Luca Trenta from Swansea University in Wales, who specializes in intelligence assassinations, says: “The Russian services could have used any other poison, or simply left him to die in prison.”
Toxicologically, the use of epibatidine may be explained by its effectiveness. Compared to other known toxins and substances such as sarin or Novichok, which can be effectively treated medically if detected early, there is no known treatment for epibatidine poisoning yet.
Alexei Navalny, a prominent Russian opposition figure who died in prison two years ago, is believed to have been poisoned with poison dart frog poison. Reuters/Archive
There is only one documented case of a person surviving this poison, in 2010, and he was a laboratory worker in the United States. However, the reasons for his survival using antihistamines still “raise many questions,” as experts point out.
It is also a substance that is difficult to detect, and a very small dose is sufficient to kill anyone, which makes its effects on the body extremely small. This becomes more difficult if informants do not know what they are looking for, especially since epibatidine has not been used before in known cases of poisoning.
This poison can be easily “ingested”: through ingestion, absorption through the skin, and perhaps even inhalation.
Was Navalny used as a guinea pig?
Some experts believe that these factors do not justify the use of epibatidine against a sick and detained opposition member. Some believe that Navalny will be used as a “guinea pig” for this poison. This substance has been known for decades, and researchers have tried to use it as a pain reliever. Today they can be manufactured in the laboratory fairly easily, but testing their effectiveness is another matter.
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The goal may also be to send a message that Russian laboratories, which have been developing toxins for decades, are still capable of producing complex and effective substances. Also, the use of a rare and strange poison may create “intentional ambiguity”: if the poisoning is not discovered, the matter may pass, and if it is discovered, the strangeness of the poison leaves a strong psychological effect that promotes the authorities’ ability to silence their opponents.
Finally, some researchers believe that the use of poisons carries a retaliatory approach against opponents. And make the death of a figure the size of Alexei Navalny an example for those who do not consider it: a death with a strange, unprecedented and extremely lethal poison.
The article was prepared in Arabic by Imad Bensaid. To read the original text, please click here
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World News
Source 1 : https://www.france24.com/ar/أوروبا/20260217-روسيا-سم-الضفادع-تصفية-المعارض-ألكسي-نافالني
Source 2 : ألدستور
