UK wants action taken on Russia after Navalny frog poisoning, Cooper says

The UK government is demanding measures in response to new evidence indicating that Russian political prisoner Alexei Navalny was killed using a poison derived from frog toxins, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated. Navalny, a leading critic of President Vladimir Putin, died abruptly two years ago while incarcerated in a Siberian prison on what have been described as fabricated charges. European laboratories have since confirmed that the cause of death was an unusual toxin originating from Ecuadorian dart frogs, a substance that Cooper asserts only the Russian state possessed the “means, motive and opportunity” to deploy.

Speaking to the BBC, Cooper emphasized that this confirmed use of a lethal toxin constitutes a “clear breach” of international chemical weapons conventions. She reinforced the UK’s commitment to push for accountability and suggested that coordinated sanctions targeting Russia could be expanded as part of the response. Cooper is currently engaging with European partners at the Munich Security Conference alongside Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, where they have urged allies to prepare for ongoing threats, especially those stemming from Russian actions.

During her interview on the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg program, Cooper highlighted the broader implications of the poisoning, stating that Britain and its international partners must be ready to confront Russian aggression, which now includes the willingness to use deadly toxins against its own citizens. She described efforts to uncover the truth behind Navalny’s death as essential to continuing the opposition leader’s mission to expose the Russian regime’s dangers. Cooper acknowledged that although Navalny can no longer tell his story, the UK is dedicated to pursuing justice on his behalf and supporting his widow.

The Russian embassy in London has strongly denied any involvement, dismissing the findings as the work of “Western fabulists” and accusing critics of engaging in “necro-propaganda.” Nevertheless, a coalition of European ministers has formally reported the incident to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, viewing it as a significant violation warranting further investigation and action. Meanwhile, Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel also stressed the need for the UK government to intensify its efforts against Russia, highlighting the importance of further sanctions and direct measures to sever financial resources supporting the Russian state and its aggressive activities

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