What is the dart frog toxin allegedly used to kill Alexei Navalny?

Five European countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands, have accused Russia of poisoning opposition leader Alexei Navalny with a rare and lethal toxin known as epibatidine. This toxin is derived from the skin of poison dart frogs found in South America and is not naturally occurring in Russia. The foreign ministries of these nations stated that analyses of samples taken from Navalny's body "conclusively confirmed the presence of epibatidine." Navalny, who was a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died in February 2024 while serving a 19-year sentence in an Arctic prison. The joint statement from the European countries was made during the Munich Security Conference, where they expressed confidence in their findings regarding the cause of Navalny's death. The analysis indicated that the toxin was responsible for his poisoning, leading to the conclusion that Russia was involved in the act. Epibatidine is classified as a neurotoxin, which raises serious concerns about the methods used by the Kremlin against dissenters. The use of such a rare and potent toxin underscores the severity of the allegations made by the European nations against Russia. The situation has prompted international condemnation and calls for accountability regarding the treatment of political prisoners in Russia.