The only thing that is surprising about the conclusion by UK, Netherlands, Sweden and Germany that Alexei Navalny was killed with epibatidine, is the specific poison.
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The only thing that is surprising about the conclusion by UK, Netherlands, Sweden and Germany that Alexei Navalny was killed with epibatidine, is the specific poison. Yup. It's weird and not something that has been used before. The Russians (and allies) have long used unusual poisons as a calling card. These exotica attract media attention, which serves Russia's purpose to frighten the living daylights out of critics of the regime both inside and outside Russia. 1/n
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The only thing that is surprising about the conclusion by UK, Netherlands, Sweden and Germany that Alexei Navalny was killed with epibatidine, is the specific poison. Yup. It's weird and not something that has been used before. The Russians (and allies) have long used unusual poisons as a calling card. These exotica attract media attention, which serves Russia's purpose to frighten the living daylights out of critics of the regime both inside and outside Russia. 1/n
And it provides plausible deniability ("You're kidding, right? Those frogs don't even live in Russia!").
This particular bit of nastiness has been known for about 30 years. Several research groups have made it, and the Russian group that reported a synthesis in 2013, made about 500 mgs of the material. They used a route that looks to me (and I'm not a synthetic organic chemist) like a pretty straightforward 11 step process. 2/n -
And it provides plausible deniability ("You're kidding, right? Those frogs don't even live in Russia!").
This particular bit of nastiness has been known for about 30 years. Several research groups have made it, and the Russian group that reported a synthesis in 2013, made about 500 mgs of the material. They used a route that looks to me (and I'm not a synthetic organic chemist) like a pretty straightforward 11 step process. 2/nEvery step had yields above 80%. It's a set of procedures that a well-trained undergraduate in a well-equipped lab could follow. I'm not saying that the authors of the paper were involved, but where they trod others might follow.
Putin and his colleagues are utterly ruthless and will use methods of the utmost viciousness and brutality to hold on to or extend their power. European governments and their populations have to face the fact that this is a regime that will not compromise. 3/n
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Every step had yields above 80%. It's a set of procedures that a well-trained undergraduate in a well-equipped lab could follow. I'm not saying that the authors of the paper were involved, but where they trod others might follow.
Putin and his colleagues are utterly ruthless and will use methods of the utmost viciousness and brutality to hold on to or extend their power. European governments and their populations have to face the fact that this is a regime that will not compromise. 3/n
The Russians cannot be trusted. At best the Russians will buy time, and then have another go.
When will European governments call a spade a spade and really push to disconnect from Russian oil and gas? If that means buying it from the US interim so be it. But then really push hard for energy and military security.
Russia is NOT going away. Nor is its hatred of Europe which is why the've been waging war on us in myriad ways for the last 20 years.4/end
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/14/alexei-navalny-poisoning-death-russia-frog-toxin -
The Russians cannot be trusted. At best the Russians will buy time, and then have another go.
When will European governments call a spade a spade and really push to disconnect from Russian oil and gas? If that means buying it from the US interim so be it. But then really push hard for energy and military security.
Russia is NOT going away. Nor is its hatred of Europe which is why the've been waging war on us in myriad ways for the last 20 years.4/end
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/14/alexei-navalny-poisoning-death-russia-frog-toxin@sellathechemist Maybe go all-in for renewables instead of paying more for the same to another hostile actor?
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The Russians cannot be trusted. At best the Russians will buy time, and then have another go.
When will European governments call a spade a spade and really push to disconnect from Russian oil and gas? If that means buying it from the US interim so be it. But then really push hard for energy and military security.
Russia is NOT going away. Nor is its hatred of Europe which is why the've been waging war on us in myriad ways for the last 20 years.4/end
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/14/alexei-navalny-poisoning-death-russia-frog-toxin@sellathechemist I’m sure I won’t be the only person to say, choose neither the frying pan or the fire, but accelerate the transition and invest, rather than wasting it.
And put some spine into the ECB and Belgium, confiscate all the $300b Russian assets in Europe and spend them on Ukraine defence and green investment.
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@sellathechemist I’m sure I won’t be the only person to say, choose neither the frying pan or the fire, but accelerate the transition and invest, rather than wasting it.
And put some spine into the ECB and Belgium, confiscate all the $300b Russian assets in Europe and spend them on Ukraine defence and green investment.
@BashStKid And communicate with your people and explain over and over again the risks that we run. Putin has spread discord for years across Europe and it's time to push back.
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@sellathechemist Maybe go all-in for renewables instead of paying more for the same to another hostile actor?
@tagomago
Exactly. It's not as though energy independence isn't valuable in its own right.(Never waste a good crisis.)
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@sellathechemist Maybe go all-in for renewables instead of paying more for the same to another hostile actor?
@tagomago @sellathechemist I think that's why they said 'in the interim'. A whole country's worth of renewable energy generators and EVs don't appear overnight.
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