UN Expert: New Evidence Points to Navalny’s ‘Extrajudicial Killing’

The UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Russian Federation, Mariana Katzarova, has condemned what she described as continued impunity surrounding the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, citing new international findings alleging he was poisoned while in state custody.

In a strongly worded statement issued today, Katzarova said recent findings released on 14 February by the governments of the United Kingdom, Sweden, France, Germany and the Netherlands provide "authoritative confirmation" that Navalny was poisoned.

If confirmed, she said, the evidence would point to an extrajudicial killing.

"Credible Grounds to Believe the Worst Fears"

Navalny died on 16 February 2024 while serving a 19-year sentence in the IK-3 "Polar Wolf" penal colony in Russia's Yamalo-Nenets region, beyond the Arctic Circle. Russian authorities stated at the time that he had felt unwell after a walk, lost consciousness and could not be resuscitated. His death certificate listed the cause as natural.

Katzarova rejected that account, citing the absence of transparency and independent scrutiny.

"For the past two years, Russian authorities have failed to conduct a credible investigation into Navalny's death in custody," she said.

"No independent autopsy has taken place and those conducted by the Russian authorities have not made their conclusions public."

She added that Russia has not cooperated with any independent international inquiry.

"This persistent refusal to account for Navalny's death, combined with the five UN Member States claiming clear scientific evidence of a lethal toxin, if confirmed, leave no doubt that Alexei Navalny was the victim of an extrajudicial killing."

Legal Obligations Under International Law

Katzarova stressed that Russia, as a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), is legally obligated to:

• Protect the right to life

• Prevent torture and ill-treatment

• Ensure accountability for deaths in custody

"Russia has violated every one of these obligations," she said.

In response to the European governments' findings, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova reportedly dismissed the allegations as an "information provocation" aimed at distracting from Western domestic issues.

Wider Pattern of Repression

The Special Rapporteur described Navalny's death as part of a broader, systematic campaign of repression within Russia.

Navalny, head of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), was arbitrarily detained in 2021 and later convicted in a series of "extremism" cases widely regarded by international observers as politically motivated. In November 2025, Russia's Supreme Court designated FBK an "extremist" and later a "terrorist organisation."

Katzarova warned that more than 2,000 political prisoners remain detained in Russia, including:

• Human rights defenders

• Journalists

• Lawyers

• Anti-war activists

She said many face life-threatening conditions, medical neglect, torture, enforced disappearance and politically motivated prosecutions.

Calls for Independent International Investigation

Katzarova renewed her call for Russia to allow an independent international investigation into Navalny's death.

"After two years of silence, denial and obstruction, only an independent international probe can bring truth, justice and accountability," she said.

She also expressed concern over reports that at least 14 people were detained during memorial events held this week across Russia to mark the anniversary of Navalny's death. According to her statement, security services recorded individuals visiting his gravesite in Moscow, and public expressions of support for Navalny or FBK may trigger criminal prosecution under "extremism" or "terrorism" laws.

"Justice Must Extend to All"

Katzarova concluded by urging Russian authorities to release all individuals arbitrarily detained for exercising their fundamental freedoms.

"Justice for Alexei Navalny must extend to all those facing persecution in Russia," she said.

"I urge Russian authorities to release all individuals arbitrarily detained for exercising their fundamental freedoms and to end the cycle of repression that continues to cost lives."