The mother of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny says new findings on the cause of his death confirm her conviction that her son was killed.
Over the weekend, the United Kingdom and several European allies issued a joint statement asserting that Navalny, who died in 2024, was poisoned with a substance derived from a toxin associated with dart frogs. According to the statement, only the Russian state possessed the capability, motive and opportunity to deploy such a lethal agent.
Speaking on Monday at her son’s grave in Moscow, marking the second anniversary of his death, Lyudmila Navalnaya said the assessment validated what the family had believed from the outset. She stated that her son did not die naturally in prison but was murdered.
Russian authorities have rejected the allegation. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the accusations as biased and unfounded, saying Moscow categorically dismisses them.
Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, also commemorated the anniversary. In a social media message, she said the truth had been established and expressed confidence that justice would eventually follow. She has previously stated that biological samples, allegedly smuggled out and analyzed by laboratories in two countries, indicated her husband had been killed. She called on the laboratories to make their findings public. The Kremlin did not respond to those remarks at the time.
Navalny, a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin, was 47 when he died in a Siberian penal colony where he was serving a 19-year sentence on extremism charges. He had built a national profile by exposing alleged high-level corruption and organizing large-scale anti-government demonstrations, becoming widely regarded abroad as the most visible figure in Russia’s opposition movement.
In 2020, he survived a poisoning attempt involving the Novichok nerve agent and received treatment in Germany. He returned to Russia in 2021, stating that he would not abandon his country or his principles. He was arrested upon arrival and later transferred to the Polar Wolf penal colony above the Arctic Circle, where he died in 2024.
At the time, the Kremlin maintained that Navalny died of natural causes. After an initial delay in releasing his body, authorities allowed his burial in Moscow in March 2024. Thousands attended the funeral, despite concerns about possible police action, making it one of the last major public gatherings of government critics.
On Monday, dozens of residents and several foreign diplomats visited Borisovskoye cemetery to lay flowers at his grave. One message left at the site read: “Alexei, we remember you every day.”
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, domestic repression has intensified. New laws have expanded the scope of criminal liability for dissent, and public or online expressions of opposition are frequently met with severe prison sentences. Many of Navalny’s allies have been imprisoned or have left the country.
Yulia Navalnaya, who now leads the Anti-Corruption Foundation established by her husband, remains abroad with their two children and faces arrest if she returns to Russia. Meanwhile, the Russian opposition in exile remains divided, struggling to coordinate a unified political strategy.
About the author
Gozem vise 21 millions € pour accélérer sa croissance
La fintech et plateforme de mobilité Gozem, lancée au Togo en 2018, est en discussion pour lever 21 millions d’euros auprès de la Société financière internationale (SFI), selon des informations relayées par Agence Ecofin. Ce financement vise à soutenir l’expansion de l’entreprise dans plusieurs marchés d’Afrique centrale et de l’Ouest, notamment au Bénin, au Cameroun et au Congo. Le montage envisagé repose sur une structure mixte : un prêt direct de 8 millions d’euros accordé par la SFI, un prêt subordonné de même montant adossé à des ressources concessionnelles de l’IDA21, ainsi que 5 millions d’euros mobilisés auprès d’investisseurs partenaires. Les fonds devraient être déployés entre 2026 et 2028 pour renforcer la flotte de véhicules — motos, tricycles et voitures — et étendre le programme « Drive-to-Buy ». Ce dispositif permet aux conducteurs d’acquérir progressivement leur véhicule via des paiements […]
Togo : nouvelle feuille de route en préparation
À l’occasion du 66ᵉ anniversaire de l’indépendance du Togo, le président du Conseil Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé a présenté, dans une adresse à la Nation, les grandes orientations devant guider l’action publique pour les prochaines années. Il a également annoncé le lancement prochain de concertations nationales en vue de l’élaboration de la nouvelle feuille de route 2026-2031, marquant une nouvelle phase de planification économique sous la Ve République. Dans son discours du 27 avril, le chef du gouvernement a structuré sa vision autour de cinq priorités : faire de l’indépendance une responsabilité continue, renforcer la souveraineté et la résilience, répondre aux attentes sociales, préparer l’avenir à travers une nouvelle stratégie publique et impliquer l’ensemble des citoyens dans sa mise en œuvre. Le cadre stratégique reposera sur le triptyque « Protéger, Rassembler, Transformer », déjà évoqué fin 2025. Selon Faure Gnassingbé, ces […]
Attenborough’s historic gorilla encounter revisited
The most iconic moment in Sir David Attenborough’s broadcasting career came in 1978, during filming in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda, where he had an unexpected close encounter with a family of mountain gorillas. The footage was recorded for the landmark series Life on Earth, and shows Attenborough sitting calmly among playful gorillas in a forest clearing. At one point, a female gorilla studies him closely from just a few feet away, a moment he later described as deeply meaningful and unlike any other interaction he had experienced with wildlife. The original goal of the expedition was scientific: to illustrate how primates use thumbs and fingers to interact with their environment. To achieve this, the crew climbed steep terrain in Rwanda’s volcanic region in search of the then-endangered mountain gorillas. At the time, the species was under severe threat from […]
White House reviews security after DC shooting
The White House is set to conduct an internal review of presidential security procedures following the shooting incident that occurred during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington. According to senior officials, the review will examine how an armed suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, was able to get close to restricted areas inside the venue while President Donald Trump and several cabinet members were present. Allen was eventually subdued by security personnel after a brief exchange of gunfire in which a federal agent was injured but is expected to recover. Despite the breach, Trump has expressed confidence in the United States Secret Service, stating that agents acted effectively to neutralise the threat and secure all high-profile individuals at the event. A senior White House official confirmed that Chief of Staff Susie Wiles will convene a meeting with security […]
Eight children missing after orphanage attack in Kogi
Eight children remain missing after an armed attack on an orphanage in Kogi State, in north-central Nigeria, authorities have confirmed. According to the state’s information commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo, gunmen stormed the unregistered facility on Sunday and abducted 23 children along with the orphanage’s owner. Security forces were able to rescue 15 of the children following what officials described as a rapid and coordinated response. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, security sources indicate the presence of a cell linked to Boko Haram in the area, which has experienced repeated incidents of violence. The commissioner noted that the orphanage was operating without official authorization and was located in a remote area, outside the oversight of relevant authorities. He called on operators of similar institutions to ensure proper registration and coordination with government agencies, particularly given the current security […]
Deadly strikes hit Afghanistan’s Kunar province
Cross-border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated following deadly strikes in the eastern Afghan province of Kunar Province, where at least seven people were killed and dozens injured, according to multiple sources. Among the injured are students and a professor from Kunar University. Taliban authorities reported that around 30 of the wounded were students, while overall casualties reached at least 75 people. Islamabad has denied responsibility for targeting civilian areas, with Pakistan’s information ministry dismissing reports of attacks on the university and nearby residential zones as false. Witnesses described intense bombardments during the incident. A university lecturer said explosions were heard across the campus, while a local journalist reported seeing residents fleeing as the attack unfolded. Afghan officials stated that buildings within the university compound sustained significant damage. There are conflicting accounts regarding the nature of the attack. Taliban […]
Related
Ukraine blasts Israel over grain ‘stolen’ by Russia
Ukraine has sharply criticised Israel over shipments of grain that Kyiv says were stolen by Russia from occupied Ukrainian territories and delivered to Israeli ports. Ukrainian officials accuse Israel of ignoring repeated warnings and allowing vessels carrying the disputed cargo to dock and unload. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said Ukraine had summoned the Israeli ambassador to Kyiv to deliver a formal protest note. He warned that Israel’s actions risk damaging bilateral ties and could trigger diplomatic and legal steps if the latest ship is allowed to offload its cargo. According to Ukrainian and international media reports, at least one Russian bulk carrier previously docked in the Israeli port of Haifa with nearly 44,000 tonnes of wheat that Ukraine says was taken from Russian occupied regions. Investigations by journalists have suggested that several shipments of grain from occupied areas have already […]
US reviewing latest Iran proposal, says talks continue
The United States says it is carefully examining a new proposal from Iran aimed at breaking the deadlock over the ongoing war and tensions in the Gulf. Officials in Washington say they are still reviewing the details and will consult allies before taking a position. Iranian officials have outlined an offer that focuses first on ending the conflict and easing restrictions on vital shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz. Under the proposal, discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme would come later, after a ceasefire and security guarantees are in place. This approach does not fully match the public stance of the United States, which insists that nuclear issues must be addressed from the start of any broader agreement. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has suggested that Tehran may be trying to gain time, saying Washington will not allow Iran […]
King Charles to urge Trump on unity with Britain
King Charles III will use his state visit to the United States to call on President Donald Trump to work more closely with Britain, as both countries face strained relations and global tensions. The King is expected to stress that the historic bond between the two nations has survived many challenges and must remain strong in the future. Charles and Queen Camilla will arrive in Washington for a four day state visit that includes a full ceremonial welcome at the White House, private talks with Trump and a rare address to a joint session of the US Congress. It will be only the second time a British monarch has addressed Congress, highlighting the importance of the trip. Relations between the US and UK have cooled in recent years, as Trump has pushed a more inward looking approach and clashed with […]
Attenborough’s historic gorilla encounter revisited
The most iconic moment in Sir David Attenborough’s broadcasting career came in 1978, during filming in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda, where he had an unexpected close encounter with a family of mountain gorillas. The footage was recorded for the landmark series Life on Earth, and shows Attenborough sitting calmly among playful gorillas in a forest clearing. At one point, a female gorilla studies him closely from just a few feet away, a moment he later described as deeply meaningful and unlike any other interaction he had experienced with wildlife. The original goal of the expedition was scientific: to illustrate how primates use thumbs and fingers to interact with their environment. To achieve this, the crew climbed steep terrain in Rwanda’s volcanic region in search of the then-endangered mountain gorillas. At the time, the species was under severe threat from […]
White House reviews security after DC shooting
The White House is set to conduct an internal review of presidential security procedures following the shooting incident that occurred during the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington. According to senior officials, the review will examine how an armed suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, was able to get close to restricted areas inside the venue while President Donald Trump and several cabinet members were present. Allen was eventually subdued by security personnel after a brief exchange of gunfire in which a federal agent was injured but is expected to recover. Despite the breach, Trump has expressed confidence in the United States Secret Service, stating that agents acted effectively to neutralise the threat and secure all high-profile individuals at the event. A senior White House official confirmed that Chief of Staff Susie Wiles will convene a meeting with security […]
Eight children missing after orphanage attack in Kogi
Eight children remain missing after an armed attack on an orphanage in Kogi State, in north-central Nigeria, authorities have confirmed. According to the state’s information commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo, gunmen stormed the unregistered facility on Sunday and abducted 23 children along with the orphanage’s owner. Security forces were able to rescue 15 of the children following what officials described as a rapid and coordinated response. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, security sources indicate the presence of a cell linked to Boko Haram in the area, which has experienced repeated incidents of violence. The commissioner noted that the orphanage was operating without official authorization and was located in a remote area, outside the oversight of relevant authorities. He called on operators of similar institutions to ensure proper registration and coordination with government agencies, particularly given the current security […]