Timeline
February 14, 2026 — February 18, 2026
World
Timeline: How the Navalny Poisoning Revelation Unfolded Over 5 Days
Two years after Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died in a Siberian prison in February 2024, five European countries jointly accused Russia of assassinating him using a rare dart frog toxin. This timeline traces the diplomatic fallout and scientific revelations from the initial announcement through Russia's denials and demands for proof.
11 events · 4 days · 29 source articles
Fri, Feb 16, 2024
Major
Alexei Navalny dies in Arctic penal colony
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, died in the Polar Wolf maximum-security corrections facility near Kharp, Siberia, while serving a 19-year sentence on extremism charges. Russian authorities claimed he fell ill after going for a walk, then spent weeks refusing to release his body. Biological samples including human tissue were smuggled from his cell shortly after his death.
Sat, Feb 14, 2026
Major
Five European nations announce Navalny was poisoned with dart frog toxin
At the Munich Security Conference, the UK, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands issued a joint statement revealing that analysis of samples from Navalny's body conclusively confirmed the presence of epibatidine, a lethal neurotoxin found in South American poison dart frogs. The countries stated that 'only the Russian state had the means, motive and opportunity' to administer this poison, and announced they were reporting Russia to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
Sat, Feb 14, 2026
Moderate
Scientific details emerge about Porton Down investigation
Reports revealed that the investigation was led by scientists at Porton Down, the UK Ministry of Defence research centre in Wiltshire. The toxin epibatidine was identified as being 200 times stronger than morphine and not naturally found in Russia. Experts noted the toxin can be produced synthetically in a lab rather than extracted directly from frogs, suggesting sophisticated state-level chemical weapons capability.
Sat, Feb 14, 2026
Moderate
Russia dismisses findings as 'information campaign'
According to Tass news agency, Moscow immediately dismissed the European findings as 'an information campaign' and propaganda. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called the allegations propaganda aimed at diverting attention from pressing Western issues, while the Kremlin maintained Navalny died of natural causes.
Sun, Feb 15, 2026
Minor
Details about epibatidine toxin explained
Media outlets provided detailed explanations of epibatidine, describing it as a natural neurotoxin from Ecuadorian poison dart frogs that causes muscle paralysis and eventual asphyxiation. The toxin is not found naturally in Russia, strengthening the case that it was deliberately administered. Scientists confirmed it could be manufactured synthetically in specialized laboratories.
Sun, Feb 15, 2026
Moderate
US Secretary of State calls findings 'troubling' but doesn't dispute them
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking during a visit to Slovakia, described the European report as 'very troubling' and 'very serious.' He stated that Washington is 'not disputing' the findings and will 'not fight' European partners on their assessment, though stopped short of directly blaming Russia himself.
Mon, Feb 16, 2026
Moderate
British media reveals smuggling operation and Porton Down role
Detailed reporting emerged explaining how tissue samples were smuggled out of Russia following Navalny's death and sent to specialist laboratories including Porton Down. The investigation paralleled the center's previous work identifying Novichok in the 2018 Skripal poisoning case, revealing Russia's continuing development of illegal chemical weapons.
Mon, Feb 16, 2026
Moderate
Kremlin 'strongly' rejects poisoning accusations
The Kremlin issued a stronger denial, 'strongly' rejecting the assessment by the five European countries. Russia continued to maintain that Navalny died of natural causes after falling ill during a walk in the prison colony, dismissing all Western allegations as biased propaganda.
Mon, Feb 16, 2026
Minor
Mourners and diplomats mark two-year anniversary of Navalny's death
Relatives and foreign diplomats gathered at Navalny's grave in Moscow to mark the second anniversary of his death. Embassy representatives from Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland and Latvia attended in a rare public show of support despite safety concerns. Navalny's mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, said the family was still waiting for clear answers about her son's death.
Tue, Feb 17, 2026
Moderate
Experts suggest Navalny may have been used as 'lab rat'
Analysis emerged suggesting Russia may have deliberately chosen the exotic dart frog toxin epibatidine to test its effectiveness. Experts speculated that Navalny may have been used as a human test subject for this rare chemical weapon, explaining why Russia would use such an unusual poison instead of more conventional methods.
Wed, Feb 18, 2026
Minor
Russia demands 'concrete' proof from European nations
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova demanded that the five European countries provide concrete data to support their allegations, claiming all accusations were of the 'highly likely' variety without specific details. Russia characterized the announcement as merely a proclamation designed to overshadow other issues at the Munich Security Conference.
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