EU Sanctions Six over Death of Alexei Navalny

The Council of the European Union has imposed sanctions on six individuals accused of involvement in developing a toxic substance linked to the death of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Most of those sanctioned are scientists and researchers.

The EU said the individuals were involved in developing chemical weapons, specifically the substance epibatidine, traces of which were found in samples taken from Navalny's body after his death. The toxin occurs naturally in South American frogs and is not found naturally in Russia.

Russia has repeatedly called on European countries that accuse Moscow of poisoning Navalny to present concrete evidence to support their claims.

Those on the sanctions list face asset freezes and a ban on entering the European Union.

(Reuters, bak)