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In a Tragic Turn, Alexey Navalny, Russian Opposition Leader, Dies in Detention

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Alexey Navalny, the Russian opposition leader and symbol of resistance against the Kremlin, has died under mysterious circumstances in a penal colony. His death has sparked international concern and speculation regarding the conditions of his detention, as well as calls for transparency and accountability in the investigation of his death.

In a startling and somber announcement, the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug confirmed the death of Alexey Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who became a global symbol of resistance against the Kremlin's grip on power. Navalny passed away under mysterious circumstances in a penal colony, igniting a flurry of international concern and speculation regarding the conditions of his detention.

The Federal Penitentiary Service has reported that the precise causes of Navalny’s death are currently under thorough investigation. Despite the immediate response from medical personnel at the facility and the arrival of an emergency medical team, all attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful. The official statement detailed that Navalny felt unwell and lost consciousness shortly after returning from a walk on February 16, leading to rapid intervention by the colony's medical workers.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, declared his lack of detailed information regarding the causes of Navalny's demise, emphasizing that it is up to medical experts to determine the exact cause. He also confirmed that President Vladimir Putin has been briefed on the situation. According to Peskov, the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) is conducting all necessary inquiries related to Navalny's death, stating that no additional directives were required.

The Investigative Committee for the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug has launched an official investigation into the tragic event. Reports from the region prior to Navalny's death indicated no known health complaints, raising questions about the suddenness of his deteriorating condition.

Navalny's death marks a grim chapter in the ongoing narrative of political dissent in Russia. Known for his outspoken criticism of corruption at the highest levels of government, Navalny's activism and legal troubles have long drawn international attention, portraying him as a pivotal figure in the struggle for a more transparent and accountable governance in Russia.

As investigations proceed, the international community watches closely, awaiting answers and calling for transparency and accountability in the handling of Navalny’s case. The incident not only deepens the divide between the Kremlin and its critics but also signals a chilling reminder of the risks faced by those who challenge the status quo within Russia's political landscape.

Source: BNN

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Has he died a natural death, or has he been murdered?
 
An innocent man murdered by Putin and the West will rightly criticise his murder. on the other hand IK has had murder attempts and has been locked up for 31 years and its internal matter. Its seems its only evil, if its committed against your man
 
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died Friday at the Arctic prison colony where he was serving a 19-year-term, Russia’s federal penitentiary service said.

Navalny lost consciousness after going for a walk and could not be revived by medics, the prison service said.

“Navalny felt bad after a walk, almost immediately losing consciousness. Medical staff arrived immediately and an ambulance team was called,” it said.

“Resuscitation measures were carried out which did not yield positive results. Paramedics confirmed the death of the convict. The causes of death are being established.”

Russia’s Investigative Committee said it had opened an investigation into his death.

Navalny’s press secretary Kira Yarmysh said his team had not been informed of his death.

“Alexei’s lawyer is now flying to Kharp,” where his prison colony is, she said in a post on social media.

Citing his spokesman, Russian news agencies reported that President Vladimir Putin had been informed of Navalny’s death.

Navalny, 47, Russia’s most prominent opposition leader, won a huge following with his criticism of corruption in Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

His exposes, posted on his YouTube channel racked up millions of views and brought tens of thousands of Russians to the streets, despite Russia’s harsh anti-protests laws.

He was jailed in early 2021 after returning to Russia from Germany, where he was recuperating from a near-fatal poisoning attack with Novichok, a Soviet-era nerve agent.

In a string of cases he was sentenced to 19 years in prison on charges widely condemned by independent rights groups and in the West as retribution for his opposition to the Kremlin.

Late last year he was moved to a remove Arctic prison colony in Russia’s Yamalo-Nenets region in northern Siberia.

The last post on Navalny’s Telegram channel, which he managed through his lawyers and team in exile, was a tribute to his wife, Yulia Navalnaya, posted on Valentine’s Day.

Source: Al Arabiya

 
I assume it was a plotted murder because Putin, to keep his throne secure, always eliminates his rivals.
 
US Vice-President Kamala Harris has blamed the Kremlin for Alexei Navalny's reported death, as tributes pour in from US lawmakers.

Speaking in Munich, Ms Harris said that Russia is responsible "whatever the story they tell".

Russia's prison service said Navalny, 47, one of the country's most significant opposition figures, died in an Arctic Circle jail on Friday.

Several other US government figures and lawmakers have expressed their concern.

Navalny was serving a 19-year sentence on charges that have widely been condemned as politically motivated. For the past decade, Navalny and his Anti-Corruption Foundation have formed the main domestic opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a statement, Russia's prison service said that Navalny "felt unwell" during a walk on Friday at the facility in the Yamalo-Nenets district and "almost immediately lost consciousness".

"The emergency doctors declared the prisoner dead," the statement added. "Cause of death is being established."
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, Ms Harris said that the US had yet to confirm the news, but if it was true this was "further sign" of the "brutality" of President Putin.

"Whatever the story they tell, let us be clear, Russia is responsible," she said, adding that "we will have more to say on this later".

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken - who was also at the conference alongside 44 US lawmakers - said that the US will "be talking to many other countries" about Navalny, "especially if these reports bear out to be true".

According to the State Department, Mr Blinken met Navalny's wife Yulia on the sidelines of the conference to express his condolences "if the reports....are true".

Ben Cardin, the chair of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a statement in which he said Navalny's reported death "is not just a tragedy for the Russian people, but a profound loss felt across the international community".

"The need for the international community to stand in solidarity with those who fight for democracy and human rights could not be more urgent," Mr Cardin added. "As we mourn this loss, we cannot shrink from our collective responsibility to hold accountable those who seek to silence dissent through violence and repression."

House Speaker Mike Johnson called Mr Putin a "vicious dictator" who is "likely directly responsible" for Navalny's reported death.

"If confirmed, this action is emblematic of Putin's global pattern of silencing critics and eliminating opponents out of fear of dissent," he said, calling for "united opposition" against Russia.

Former Vice-President Mike Pence, a long-time Putin critic, said that there was "no room in the Republican Party for apologists for Putin".

Navalny was last seen earlier this week, when he appeared in court hearing via video link. During the hearing, he appeared healthy and was laughing.

"I don't want to hear any condolences," his mother was quoted as saying on Friday. "We saw him in prison on 12th [February], in a meeting. He was alive, healthy and happy."

BBC

www.bbc.com

President Biden says 'no doubt' Vladimir Putin to blame for Navalny's death

The president said that the US has "a whole number of options" to respond if the death is confirmed.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 
America itself has committed so many murders that it is not qualified to speak on this matter.
 
FearlessRoar said:
America itself has committed so many murders that it is not qualified to speak on this matter.
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Agree.

What America does is many times worse.

How many countries has America destabilized (regime changes, invasions etc.)?

Let's not forget what happened in Gitmo and other places.
 
FearlessRoar said:
US Vice-President Kamala Harris has blamed the Kremlin for Alexei Navalny's reported death, as tributes pour in from US lawmakers.

Speaking in Munich, Ms Harris said that Russia is responsible "whatever the story they tell".

Russia's prison service said Navalny, 47, one of the country's most significant opposition figures, died in an Arctic Circle jail on Friday.

Several other US government figures and lawmakers have expressed their concern.

Navalny was serving a 19-year sentence on charges that have widely been condemned as politically motivated. For the past decade, Navalny and his Anti-Corruption Foundation have formed the main domestic opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a statement, Russia's prison service said that Navalny "felt unwell" during a walk on Friday at the facility in the Yamalo-Nenets district and "almost immediately lost consciousness".

"The emergency doctors declared the prisoner dead," the statement added. "Cause of death is being established."
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, Ms Harris said that the US had yet to confirm the news, but if it was true this was "further sign" of the "brutality" of President Putin.

"Whatever the story they tell, let us be clear, Russia is responsible," she said, adding that "we will have more to say on this later".

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken - who was also at the conference alongside 44 US lawmakers - said that the US will "be talking to many other countries" about Navalny, "especially if these reports bear out to be true".

According to the State Department, Mr Blinken met Navalny's wife Yulia on the sidelines of the conference to express his condolences "if the reports....are true".

Ben Cardin, the chair of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a statement in which he said Navalny's reported death "is not just a tragedy for the Russian people, but a profound loss felt across the international community".

"The need for the international community to stand in solidarity with those who fight for democracy and human rights could not be more urgent," Mr Cardin added. "As we mourn this loss, we cannot shrink from our collective responsibility to hold accountable those who seek to silence dissent through violence and repression."

House Speaker Mike Johnson called Mr Putin a "vicious dictator" who is "likely directly responsible" for Navalny's reported death.

"If confirmed, this action is emblematic of Putin's global pattern of silencing critics and eliminating opponents out of fear of dissent," he said, calling for "united opposition" against Russia.

Former Vice-President Mike Pence, a long-time Putin critic, said that there was "no room in the Republican Party for apologists for Putin".

Navalny was last seen earlier this week, when he appeared in court hearing via video link. During the hearing, he appeared healthy and was laughing.

"I don't want to hear any condolences," his mother was quoted as saying on Friday. "We saw him in prison on 12th [February], in a meeting. He was alive, healthy and happy."

BBC

www.bbc.com

President Biden says 'no doubt' Vladimir Putin to blame for Navalny's death

The president said that the US has "a whole number of options" to respond if the death is confirmed.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
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How can Kamala be so sure? Perhaps the poor man had an illness. How is she so confidently saying this?
 
U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for Alexei Navalny's death and warned there could be consequences, saying he was "not surprised" but "outraged" by the opposition leader's passing.

"We don't know exactly what happened, but there is no doubt that the death of Nalvany was a consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did," Biden said at the White House after Russian prison officials announced that Navalny had died.

Reuters
 
Cricket Warrior said:
U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for Alexei Navalny's death and warned there could be consequences, saying he was "not surprised" but "outraged" by the opposition leader's passing.

"We don't know exactly what happened, but there is no doubt that the death of Nalvany was a consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did," Biden said at the White House after Russian prison officials announced that Navalny had died.

Reuters
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This statement of Biden will surely increase the tensions between these two rivals.
 
Alexie Navalny was just famous before but his death would make him tenfold the leader he ever was and would lead to unrest in Russia too.
 
Navalny was a racist and a xenophobe who refused to disavow his previous positions when asked.

However I will credit him for bravery. Unlike some Pakistani politicians who upon falling out of favour with the establishment conveniently develop various ailments and rather escape overseas than face the music - he returned to Russia knowing he risked certain death.

Don't understand the logic of autocratic regimes in creating martyrs out of political opponents.
 
UK summons Russian embassy over Navalny death

The British government said on Friday it was summoning the Russian embassy to make clear it held Russian authorities "fully responsible" for the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

The foreign ministry said in a statement that Navalny's death at an Arctic penal colony "must be investigated fully and transparently."

British foreign minister David Cameron had said earlier on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin should answer for Navalny's death.


 
Cricket Warrior said:
UK summons Russian embassy over Navalny death

The British government said on Friday it was summoning the Russian embassy to make clear it held Russian authorities "fully responsible" for the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

The foreign ministry said in a statement that Navalny's death at an Arctic penal colony "must be investigated fully and transparently."

British foreign minister David Cameron had said earlier on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin should answer for Navalny's death.


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Don't know why the UK is poking its nose into this matter.
 
Cricket Warrior said:
U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for Alexei Navalny's death and warned there could be consequences, saying he was "not surprised" but "outraged" by the opposition leader's passing.
Click to expand...

LOL at "consequences". What can Biden do? Russia is a nuclear superpower.
 
FearlessRoar said:
I assume it was a plotted murder because Putin, to keep his throne secure, always eliminates his rivals.
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Putin is hugely popular in Russia contrary to what western media portrays. Navalny was as popular in Russia as Maulana saab is in Pakistan, if Navalny ran in an election he would be luck to get 5% of the votes. He died naturally.
 
BouncerGuy said:
Putin is cleaning the house for himself.
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I see western media has done its job. Putin enjoys current 67% approval rating. He does not need to kill anyone. Killing people would shift that rating down.
 
Navalny's 'killers' refusing to hand over body, allies say

Supporters of Alexei Navalny on Saturday leveled accusations against Russian authorities, branding them "killers" and accusing them of attempting to conceal their actions by withholding Navalny's body.

The Kremlin maintained its silence in the face of Western accusations and widespread tributes following the death of the 47-year-old Kremlin critic in an Arctic prison on Friday.

Navalny's death, attributed to the Kremlin by the West, comes as a significant blow to Russia's opposition, stripping them of a key figurehead mere weeks before elections expected to solidify President Vladimir Putin's dominance.

Navalny's mother, Lyudmila, and his lawyer were reportedly denied access to his body when they arrived in the region where the prison is located. His spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, expressed the belief that the authorities are attempting to cover their tracks by withholding Navalny's body.

"It's obvious that the killers want to cover their tracks and are therefore not handing over Alexei's body, hiding it even from his mother," Navalny's team said in a post on Telegram.

Protests and memorials in honor of Navalny erupted in various cities across Russia, resulting in over 340 arrests, according to the OVD-Info rights group. Russian police swiftly moved to disperse the gatherings, and in Moscow, tearful mourners laid flowers in the snow, expressing their grief and anger.

While Western leaders, including those at the G7 foreign ministers meeting in Munich, have condemned Navalny's death and held a minute's silence, the Kremlin has remained silent. US President Joe Biden squarely placed blame on Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating, "Make no mistake, Putin is responsible for Navalny's death."

Navalny's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, called for international unity against the Russian regime, expressing her determination that Putin and his entourage would be held accountable for their actions.

Tributes continue to pour in for Navalny, with supporters staging anti-Putin protests and setting up memorials at Russian diplomatic missions globally. Russian authorities have detained hundreds of people who laid flowers at monuments, and videos circulated online depict confrontations between police and mourners.

Navalny, a prominent Kremlin critic, spent over three years in prison, and his anti-corruption campaigning gained him international recognition. His return to Russia from Germany, where he was recovering from a poisoning attack, led to his imprisonment and sparked mass protests.

Despite facing numerous challenges, Navalny remained a symbol of opposition against the Kremlin's actions. His death leaves a void in Russia's opposition just weeks before upcoming elections, deepening concerns about the state of democracy in the country.

SOURCE: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...ver-body-allies-say/articleshow/107783460.cms
 
The US ambassador to Moscow visited a makeshift shrine to Alexei Navalny on Sunday, as Russian authorities suppressed memorials and tributes to the late opposition leader.

Rights groups say police have detained over 400 people at gatherings for the politician, a leading critic of President Vladimir Putin who died in an Arctic prison Friday.

Ambassador Lynne Tracy was pictured on Sunday at the Solovetsky Stone, a monument to political repression that has become a major site of tributes for Navalny.

“Today at the Solovetsky Stone we mourn the death of Alexei Navalny and other victims of political repression in Russia,” the US embassy in Moscow said on social media.

“We extend our deepest condolences to Alexei Navalny’s family, colleagues and supporters. His strength is an inspiring example. We honor his memory,” it said.

At a separate makeshift memorial known as the “Wall of Grief”, a bronze monument to Soviet-era repression, police had set up fences in a bid to ward off mourners.

Several dozen police officers could be seen standing nearby, but some people were allowed to enter through the fence and lay flowers, an AFP reporter saw.

Navalny, aged 47, was seen by many Russians as their best hope for change after years of perceived corruption and spiraling state oppression.

His death after over three years behind bars sparked a storm of condemnation from the West and despair among his supporters, many of whom are young people.

“It was not a death, it was murder,” Leonid Volkov, a top Navalny ally, wrote on Telegram on Saturday.

“His life’s work must win out,” he said.

Source: Al Arabiya

 
Such actions from America and the West show that he was an agent for America and the West.
 
More than 400 people have been detained at events across 32 Russian cities since the death of Alexei Navalny, President Vladimir Putin's most formidable opponent, according to rights group OVD-Info, as Russians continued to gather and lay flowers.

It has been the largest wave of arrests at political events in Russia since Sept. 2022, when more than 1,300 were arrested at demonstrations against a "partial mobilisation" of reservists for Putin's military campaign in Ukraine.


Reuters
 
FearlessRoar said:
Such actions from America and the West show that he was an agent for America and the West.
Click to expand...

That's what it seems like.

They don't show much concern when Palestinians die but they have great concerns for Ukraine and this Navalny guy.
 
Yulia Navalnaya Vows to Continue Alexei Navalny's Legacy, Accuses Putin of Killing Opposition Leader

Yulia Navalnaya, widow of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has vowed to carry on her husband's legacy and seek justice for his death. As she meets with EU foreign affairs ministers, her story transcends political boundaries, inspiring all who cherish freedom and justice.

As the world still grapples with the circumstances of Alexei Navalny's death, Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of the late Russian opposition leader, has vowed to carry on her husband's legacy in the face of unspeakable personal loss. Navalnaya's bold accusation that Russian President Vladimir Putin is responsible for her husband's death marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle against autocracy in Russia. As she prepares to meet with EU foreign affairs ministers, her story transcends political boundaries, resonating with all who cherish freedom and justice.

Yulia Navalnaya's journey from spouse to spokesperson for a movement is a testament to her unyielding spirit. In the aftermath of her husband's sudden and controversial death, she has not only accused Putin directly but has also taken significant steps to keep Navalny's vision alive. By attending the EU Foreign Affairs Council, Navalnaya seeks to honor her husband's memory and gather international support against Putin's regime. Her actions reveal a profound commitment to her husband's cause, transforming personal tragedy into a rallying cry for freedom fighters everywhere.

Navalnaya's public statements and social media posts have painted a vivid picture of her love for Alexei and her determination to seek justice. "Putin and his government will bear responsibility for his death," she declared, signaling a new chapter in her life as a vocal opponent of the Kremlin's policies. Her attendance at the Munich Security Conference, where she boldly held Putin accountable, underscores her role as a formidable adversary to those who seek to suppress dissent in Russia. With many Western leaders echoing her accusations, Navalnaya's voice has amplified a global chorus of condemnation against the Kremlin's actions.

The sudden death of Alexei Navalny has sent shockwaves through the international community, raising urgent questions about the cause of his demise and the Kremlin's refusal to release his body. Yet, in the face of such adversity, Yulia Navalnaya's resolve remains unbroken. Her promise to unveil the truth behind her husband's death and her vision of a "free Russia" capture the essence of her late husband's struggle. As she prepares to share her revelations, the world watches, reminded of the enduring power of individual courage in the face of tyranny.

In the narrative of Yulia Navalnaya, we find not just a story of personal loss and political intrigue but a chapter in the larger saga of humanity's quest for freedom and dignity. By continuing her husband's work and standing up to Vladimir Putin, Navalnaya embodies the spirit of resistance that defines our time. As this saga unfolds, her actions remind us that the fight for justice transcends borders, touching the heart of what it means to be human. Her story, marked by both sorrow and strength, will undoubtedly inspire generations to come, serving as a testament to the power of conviction in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

Source: BNN

bnnbreaking.com

Yulia Navalnaya Vows to Continue Alexei Navalny's Legacy, Accuses Putin of Killing Opposition Leader

Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, stands against Putin's regime, seeking justice for her husband's death and a free Russia.
bnnbreaking.com bnnbreaking.com
 
Such individuals are the results of Putin's oppression. However, these individuals should refrain from seeking support from enemies of their nation. Purely focusing on the agenda of betterment for their country, without mentioning or seeking help from America , can lead them to success.
 

Donald Trump breaks silence on Alexei Navalny's death - but makes no mention of Vladimir Putin​

Donald Trump has broken his silence on the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny - but avoided casting blame on President Vladimir Putin.

Mr Trump, who drew criticism for praising the Russian ruler during his presidency, spoke out in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.

The former US president wrote on Monday: "The sudden death of Alexei Navalny has made me more and more aware of what is happening in our country.

"It is a slow, steady progression, with CROOKED, Radical Left Politicians, Prosecutors, and Judges leading us down a path to destruction. Open Borders, Rigged Elections, and Grossly Unfair Courtroom Decisions are DESTROYING AMERICA."

He added: "WE ARE A NATION IN DECLINE, A FAILING NATION! MAGA2024."

However, his statement was criticised by political rivals, including fellow Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley.

She wrote on X: "Donald Trump could have condemned Vladimir Putin for being a murderous thug. Trump could have praised Navalny's courage.

"Instead, he stole a page from liberals' playbook, denouncing America and comparing our country to Russia."

It comes after Mr Navalny died on Friday while serving a 19-year prison sentence on charges his supporters said were politically motivated.

Several world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, have pointed the finger of blame directly at Mr Putin, while Mr Navalny's wife has said she believes he was poisoned on the Russian president's orders.

Russia's government has rejected allegations it was involved in his death, with the Kremlin criticising the reaction in the West as "unacceptable" and "absolutely rabid".

Speaking at the White House on Friday, Mr Biden said: "Russian authorities are going to tell their own story.

"But make no mistake. Make no mistake. Putin is responsible for Navalny's death.

"We don't know exactly what happened, but there is no doubt that the death of Navalny was a consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did."

Canadian leader Justin Trudeau also said his death was a reminder of "exactly what a monster Putin is".

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer did not mention the Russian president when they issued their initial reactions to Mr Navalny's death last week.

In similar statements posted on social media, the pair both described what happened as "terrible news," praised Mr Navalny's "courage" and sent their sympathies to his family.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron also said on Friday: "Putin should be [held] accountable for what has happened - no one should doubt the dreadful nature of his regime."

Source: SKY
 
Don't understand why America is jumping around on Navalny's death. It's Russia's internal matter!

It seems more like the USA finding an excuse to put more sanctions on Russia.
 
I wonder what are they trying to dig out of his body?

-------------------------

Alexei Navalny's body to be held for two weeks for 'chemical analysis', family told

The family of Alexei Navalny, the Putin critic who died in a Russian prison, have reportedly been told his body will not be released for two weeks.

His mother was informed it was being held for "chemical analysis", a representative for Navalny said.

There has been no confirmation of the whereabouts of the body from Russian authorities, while efforts to locate it have been repeatedly shut down.

The wife of the late Russian opposition leader has accused them of hiding it.

In a video on Monday vowing to continue his work to fight for a "free Russia", Yulia Navalnaya directly accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of killing her husband. She also alleged his body was being kept until traces of poisoning by the nerve agent Novichok had disappeared.

Navalny survived an attempt to kill him using Novichok in 2020.

Her voice sometimes shaking with grief and anger, Ms Navalnaya asked viewers to stand alongside her and "share the fury and hate for those who dared to kill our future".

Navalny's death in prison was announced on Friday. The authorities at the Siberian penal colony where he was being held said he had never regained consciousness after he collapsed following a walk.

His mother and lawyer travelled to the remote colony as soon as news of his death broke.

Attempts to locate the body have repeatedly been shut down by the prison mortuary and local authorities.

On Monday, the Kremlin said an investigation into Navalny's death was ongoing and that there were "no results" as of yet.

Later, Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said that investigators had told Navalny's mother Lyudmila they would not hand over the body for two weeks while they conducted a "chemical analysis".

In her video message, filmed in a style recognisably similar to those her late husband used to make, Ms Navalnaya said she believed Navalny had been poisoned.

"They are hiding his body - not showing or giving it to his mother - and they lie. Waiting for the traces of Putin's latest Novichok to disappear," she said.

Navalny, who was the Russian opposition's most significant leader for the last decade, had been serving a 19-year sentence on charges many viewed as politically motivated.

Western leaders have put the blame for Navalny's death squarely on President Putin.

Responding to questions from reporters on Monday, President Joe Biden said: "The fact of the matter is: Putin is responsible, whether he ordered it or he is responsible for the circumstances he put that man in."

During a press conference on Monday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he Navalny had been "slowly murdered in a Russian jail by Putin's regime".

Both the EU and the US have said they are considering new sanctions on Russia following Navalny's death.

The UK Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, has also said he expects Britain and the rest of the G7 group of rich nations to impose fresh sanctions on any Russians involved in the death.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said comments by Western politicians in regards to Navalny's death were "arrogant" and "unacceptable".

Russian prison authorities said at the weekend that Navalny had suffered "sudden death syndrome".

BBC
 

Alexei Navalny: Mother demands Putin returns son's body​

The mother of Alexei Navalny, the Putin critic who died in a Russian prison, has called on President Vladimir Putin to release his body.

In a video filmed outside the colony where he died on Friday, she said she had been trying to see him for five days but didn't even know where he was.

And Navalny's wife Yulia urged the authorities not to stop his loved ones from saying goodbye to him.

The family have been told his body will not be released for two weeks.

His mother was informed it was being held for "chemical analysis", a representative for Navalny said.

There has been no confirmation of the whereabouts of the body from Russian authorities, while efforts to locate it have been repeatedly shut down.

Yulia Navalnaya has alleged her husband's body was being kept until traces of poisoning by the nerve agent Novichok had disappeared. Navalny survived an attempt to kill him using the poison in 2020.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the accusations "unfounded and vulgar", but added that since Ms Navalnaya was widowed just days ago he wouldn't comment further.

Navalny's mother made a direct appeal to President Putin outside the Siberian penal colony known as Polar Wolf, where his death was announced on 16 February.

"I've not been able to see him for five days, they're refusing to give his body to me, and they're not even saying where he is," she says.

"I'm asking you, Vladimir Putin - it all depends on you alone. Let me finally see my son. I demand that Alexei's body is released immediately so I can give him a decent burial."

Her words were echoed in a strongly worded post on X (formerly known as Twitter) by her daughter-in-law.

"I couldn't care less about how the murderer's press secretary comments on my words," she said, referring to Mr Peskov. She has directly accused Mr Putin of killing her husband.

"Give back Alexei's body and let him be buried with dignity, don't get in the way of people saying goodbye to him," she said.

Her remarks follow speeches to the European Union and the Munich Security Conference, and an emotional video released on Monday where she vowed to continue her husband's work to fight for a "free Russia".

The following day, Ms Navalnaya's newly-created X account where the video was posted was briefly suspended. The company said it was blocked "mistakenly" due to a system error.

Ms Navalnaya also told EU leaders on Monday not to recognise Russia's presidential elections on 16 March and to pursue members of Mr Putin's inner circle who were still trying to dodge sanctions.

Source: BBC
 
Alexei Navalny's mother has said she has been shown his body, but that the Russian authorities were pressuring her to allow a "secret" burial.

In a video address, Lyudmila Navalnaya said she had been brought to a morgue where she signed a death certificate.

The former opposition leader's press secretary said a medical report presented to Ms Navalnaya stated he died of natural causes.

Navalny's widow has said he was killed by Russian authorities.

Lyudmila Navalnaya said the law required officials to hand over her son's body, but that she was being "blackmailed" as they refused to do so. She alleged authorities were setting conditions for the burial of her son, including the place, time and manner of his burial.


BBC
 
Russian authorities are threatening to bury Alexei Navalny on the grounds of the Arctic prison colony where he died unless his family agrees to a closed funeral, the opposition leader's team said Friday.

The 47-year-old Kremlin critic died last week after spending more than three years behind bars, prompting outrage and condemnation from Western leaders and his supporters.

Several leading Russian cultural figures and activists have called on authorities to release the body to his mother, who arrived at the prison colony in northern Siberia last Saturday.


Brecorder
 
Cricket Warrior said:
Russian authorities are threatening to bury Alexei Navalny on the grounds of the Arctic prison colony where he died unless his family agrees to a closed funeral, the opposition leader's team said Friday.

The 47-year-old Kremlin critic died last week after spending more than three years behind bars, prompting outrage and condemnation from Western leaders and his supporters.

Several leading Russian cultural figures and activists have called on authorities to release the body to his mother, who arrived at the prison colony in northern Siberia last Saturday.


Brecorder
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I thought that sort of things only happens here in Pakistan but wallah Russian establishment is 2 steps ahead!
 
Very worried about IK now, the Pakistan establishment and PDM are capable of anything and the manner in which they have gotten away with blatantly rigging the elections wholeheartedly will further embolden them that the PTI and Pakistani people will not really do anything.
 
Alexei Navalny's mother has said she was given an ultimatum to agree to a secret funeral within three hours or else her son would be buried at prison.

Lyudmila Navalnaya said she refused to negotiate with investigators because "they do not have the authority to decide how and where she should bury her son", according to a Navalny spokeswoman.


Sky News
 

Navalny's body returned to mother, spokeswoman says​

The body of leading Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny has been returned to his mother, his spokeswoman says.

In a post on X, Kira Yarmysh thanked everybody who had demanded that the authorities hand over his remains.

"The funeral is yet to take place," she wrote.

Navalny's mother Lyudmila had reportedly been told to agree to a "secret" burial. If she refused, he would be buried at the prison colony where he died.

She has spend the last week in the town close to the prison where he died, trying to first confirm the location of his body then demanding it be returned to her.

After signing a death certificate saying he had died of natural causes, she was then given three hours to agree to a "secret" funeral for her son.

If she didn't agree he would be buried within the grounds of the prison where he died, Ms Yarmysh said his mother was told.

However, Lyudmila had apparently refused to negotiate with the authorities.

Ms Yarmysh said the funeral plans were still not clear.

"We don't know whether the authorities will interfere with it being carried out in the way the family wants and as Alexei deserves," she said.

Earlier on Saturday, Navalny's widow, Yulia, accused Vladimir Putin of holding her late husband's body "hostage" and demanded its release without conditions.

She again accused the Russian president of being behind the death of her husband.

The Kremlin has denied the allegations, calling Western reaction to the death "hysterical".

Navalny died on 16 February in a Russian prison inside the Arctic Circle.

For years he was the most high-profile critic of the Russian leader.

In August 2020, the former opposition leader was poisoned using the Novichok nerve agent by a team of would-be assassins from the Russian secret services.

Airlifted to Germany, he recovered there before returning to Russia in January 2021, where he was imprisoned.

Attempts at commemorating his death have been met by a heavy-handed response from Russian authorities, with makeshift monuments cleared and hundreds arrested.

Source: BBC
 
Alexei Navalny was about to be freed in prisoner swap, says colleague

Alexei Navalny was about to be freed in a prisoner swap when he died, according to his colleague Maria Pevchikh.

She said the Russian opposition leader was going to be exchanged for Vadim Krasikov, a Russian hitman serving a life sentence for murder in Germany.

Two US citizens being held in Russia were also going to be part of the deal, Ms Pevchikh claimed.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the Financial Times he was "not aware of such agreements".

BBC News has not seen any evidence for Ms Pevchikh's claims and is unable to independently verify them.

Ms Pevchikh said negotiations had been in their final stage on 15 February.

Navalny died on 16 February in his cell in the prison colony in Siberia where he was being held on a 19-year sentence over charges that were widely seen as politically motivated.


www.bbc.com

Alexei Navalny was about to be freed in prisoner swap, says colleague

Maria Pevchikh claims the Russian opposition leader was set to be exchanged for a hitman when he died.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 
Cricket Warrior said:
Alexei Navalny was about to be freed in prisoner swap, says colleague

Alexei Navalny was about to be freed in a prisoner swap when he died, according to his colleague Maria Pevchikh.

She said the Russian opposition leader was going to be exchanged for Vadim Krasikov, a Russian hitman serving a life sentence for murder in Germany.

Two US citizens being held in Russia were also going to be part of the deal, Ms Pevchikh claimed.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the Financial Times he was "not aware of such agreements".

BBC News has not seen any evidence for Ms Pevchikh's claims and is unable to independently verify them.

Ms Pevchikh said negotiations had been in their final stage on 15 February.

Navalny died on 16 February in his cell in the prison colony in Siberia where he was being held on a 19-year sentence over charges that were widely seen as politically motivated.


www.bbc.com

Alexei Navalny was about to be freed in prisoner swap, says colleague

Maria Pevchikh claims the Russian opposition leader was set to be exchanged for a hitman when he died.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
Click to expand...

But their intentions were never to set him free all they wanted was to remove him from their way which they did.
 

Alexei Navalny: Opposition leader's lawyer reportedly arrested in Moscow​

A lawyer for Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in prison this month, has reportedly been arrested in Moscow.

According to Russian media sources, Vasily Dubkov was detained for "violating public order".

Following Navalny's death, Mr Dubkov accompanied his mother to the Arctic prison colony where he died on 16 February.

The Russian authorities have not yet confirmed the arrest of Mr Dubkov.

In October 2023, other lawyers for Navalny - Vadim Kobzev, Igor Sergunin, and Aleksei Lipster - were arrested on charges of "extremism".

In January, Olga Mikhailova, another lawyer for the opposition leader, said she had been charged with the same crime and decided to remain in exile.

Russian authorities banned the Anti-Corruption Foundation, the organisation led by Navalny, for "extremism" in 2021.

The opposition leader's body was held by prison authorities for more than a week following his death. His mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, travelled to the remote "Polar Wolf" jail where he died to retrieve his body, accompanied by Mr Dubkov.

The body was handed over to his mother eight days after his death. Mrs Navalnaya said she was threatened by authorities, who wanted her son to be buried in "secret".

Navalny's allies have said they are looking for a place to hold a public memorial for the former opposition leader.

However, Navalny's press secretary, Kira Yarmysh, said on Tuesday that most funeral locations they had contacted had refused to allow a ceremony on their premises.

"Some places say that the premises are occupied, some refuse when the name Navalny is mentioned. In one place we were directly told that funeral agencies were prohibited from working with us," Ms Yarmysh wrote.

Source: BBC
 
With hours to go until Alexei Navalny's funeral, his team has said they continue to face difficulties in organising the farewell ceremony.

His spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said they had been unable to find a hearse to drive the body to church.

"Unknown people are calling mortuaries and threatening them if they accept to take Alexei's body," Ms Yarmysh said.

The funeral is scheduled to take place on Friday in Maryino, on the outskirts of Moscow.


BBC
 
Alexei Navalny: Crowds chant defiance as they bid farewell to Navalny

It was feared that the authorities would crack down on Friday's funeral proceedings.

Indeed, on Friday morning a heavy police presence was visible in Maryino, the area of Moscow where the funeral was held - and where Navalny lived with his family for many years.

At one point, Navalny's team estimated that the line of people stretched well over 1km (0.6 miles), despite the grey winter's day in which temperatures hovered at just above freezing.

Yet none of the policemen - many of whom were in full riot gear - intervened when expressions of support for Navalny became overtly political.

Thousands chanted out "no to war", "Russia without Putin" and "Russia will be free" - slogans that have previously landed many Russians in jail.

The memorial service began just after 14:00 Moscow time (11:00 GMT) at the Church of the Icon of Our Lady Quench My Sorrows.

It followed much uncertainty and complaints by Navalny's team that the authorities had been making the arrangements difficult - even finding a hearse was an issue.

However, hundreds started to arrive hours before proceedings were meant to begin. They were later joined by foreign dignitaries, including the US, German and French ambassadors.



BBC
 
Cricket Warrior said:
Alexei Navalny: Crowds chant defiance as they bid farewell to Navalny

It was feared that the authorities would crack down on Friday's funeral proceedings.

Indeed, on Friday morning a heavy police presence was visible in Maryino, the area of Moscow where the funeral was held - and where Navalny lived with his family for many years.

At one point, Navalny's team estimated that the line of people stretched well over 1km (0.6 miles), despite the grey winter's day in which temperatures hovered at just above freezing.

Yet none of the policemen - many of whom were in full riot gear - intervened when expressions of support for Navalny became overtly political.

Thousands chanted out "no to war", "Russia without Putin" and "Russia will be free" - slogans that have previously landed many Russians in jail.

The memorial service began just after 14:00 Moscow time (11:00 GMT) at the Church of the Icon of Our Lady Quench My Sorrows.

It followed much uncertainty and complaints by Navalny's team that the authorities had been making the arrangements difficult - even finding a hearse was an issue.

However, hundreds started to arrive hours before proceedings were meant to begin. They were later joined by foreign dignitaries, including the US, German and French ambassadors.



BBC
Click to expand...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1763576936033349754
 
43 Countries Demand International Probe Into Navalny's Death

More than 40 countries on Monday demanded an independent international investigation into the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny -- and said President Vladimir Putin bore ultimate responsibility.

European Union members, the United States, Britain, Ukraine, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway were among countries to voice outrage over Navalny's death at the UN Human Rights Council.

Navalny, 47, who died in an Arctic prison colony, was laid to rest in Moscow on Friday, surrounded by crowds of defiant mourners who chanted his name.

"We are outraged by the death of the Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, for which the ultimate responsibility lies with President Putin and the Russian authorities," EU ambassador Lotte Knudsen told the UN rights body on behalf of 43 countries.

"Russia must allow an independent and transparent international investigation into circumstances of his sudden death," which is viewed as "yet another sign of the accelerating and systematic repression in Russia."

The countries said they were deeply concerned about the "systematic crackdown on civil society".

They urged Russia to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, human rights defenders, journalists and anti-war activists detained for peacefully exercising their human rights and for opposing Russia's war in Ukraine.

"We call on the Russian Federation to end this climate of impunity and create a safe environment for political opposition and critical voices," the statement said.

They also urged Russia to "abolish its oppressive legislation and end political misuse of the judiciary".

"Russia's political leadership and authorities must be held to account," said Knudsen.

"Navalny's courage, sacrifice and unwavering commitment to the cause of justice, freedom and democracy will never be forgotten."

The death of Putin's staunchest opponent was announced on February 16 as the Kremlin leader campaigned to secure a new six-year term in an election in mid-March where he will face no real competition.

For his part, UN human rights chief Volker Turk said Navalny's death "adds to my serious concerns about his persecution".

In the build-up to this month's elections, the Russian authorities had further intensified their repression of dissenting voices, Turk said Monday in his global update to the Human Rights Council.

Several candidates have been prevented from running, due to alleged administrative irregularities, he noted.

"Since the onset of Russia's war on Ukraine, thousands of politicians, journalists, human rights defenders, lawyers and people who have simply spoken their minds on social media have faced administrative and criminal charges, and this trend appears to have worsened in recent months," he said.

He called for a review of all such cases and for "an immediate end to the repression of independent voices".

"The future of the country depends on an open space."

Responding to Turk, Russia's representative in the chamber said the UN Human Rights Office was producing "anti-Russian reports" which "reproduced fabrications from Ukraine and the West".

"There is no shortage of openly false material that targets our country. This looks particularly cynical," he said.

He called on Turk and his office "to start giving an objective assessment to the situation in the world, in order not to lose the remaining trust that it has".

SOURCE: AFP
 
Russia’s spymaster said Tuesday that opposition leader Alexei Navalny died of natural causes, a statement that appeared to reflect the Kremlin’s efforts to assuage international outrage over the death of President Vladimir Putin’s fiercest foe.

Sergei Naryshkin, the director of the Foreign Intelligence Service, the top spy agency known under its Russian acronym SVR, made the statement in an interview broadcast by Russian state television. He didn’t name the cause of Navalny’s death in a remote Arctic penal colony or give any other details.


Source: Politico
 
Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has called for an election day protest against President Vladimir Putin.

As part of the protest, people should form long queues at polling stations on 17 March at midday, Ms Navalnaya said.

"We need to use the election day to show that we exist and there are many of us," she said in a video message.

Ms Navalnaya's husband died suddenly at a Russian penal colony on 16 February. She has blamed Mr Putin for his death.

Her call for a polling day protest has been dubbed "Midday against Putin".

Russia's presidential election - which most international observers do not believe will be free or fair - will take place from 15 to 17 March. Mr Putin is widely expected to win a fifth term in office.

Ms Navalnaya said turning up at polling stations at the same time was a "very simple and safe action" that could not be prohibited by the authorities, but would allow like-minded people to "see that there are many of us and we are strong".

People can then vote for any candidate except President Putin, spoil their ballot or write "Navalny" in big letters, Ms Navalnaya said.

The idea of a midday gathering at polling stations was put forward by Navalny two weeks before his death.

Navalny - who continued to keep up a social media presence from jail through messages posted by his lawyers - wrote on X that the election day protest had the chance to be a real "all-Russian protest action... available to everyone, everywhere."

"Millions will be able to take part in it. And tens of millions will witness it," Navalny wrote.

Navalny himself was barred from running in the 2018 presidential vote because of an embezzlement conviction widely condemned as politically motivated.

He died while serving a lengthy prison sentence on politically motivated charges.

The Kremlin has said the 47-year-old died of natural causes, but his supporters and many foreign leaders have blamed Mr Putin for his fate.

Ms Navalnaya stepped into the political spotlight soon after husband's death was announced, and has since addressed the European Parliament and held talks with US President Joe Biden.

In her YouTube message, she spoke of being heartened by the large crowds that came out last week for her husband's funeral in Moscow.

Since last Friday, thousands of people have continued to turn up to Borisovskoye Cemetery, and Navalny's grave has been submerged by flowers. "I can't tell you how much that has meant to me," Ms Navalnaya said.

"Alexei dreamed of the beautiful Russia of the future - and that is you," she added.

BBC

www.bbc.com

Alexei Navalny: Widow urges Russians to protest on election day

Yulia Navalnaya urges opponents of Vladimir Putin to form long queues at polling stations at the same time.
www.bbc.com
 
In the final years of his life, Alexei Navalny developed a plan for Russia’s next presidential election. That vote is due to take place this weekend, exactly a month after Navalny’s death in a Russian penal colony, and the results will not be much of a surprise: Vladimir Putin is sure to take another six-year term in power. But Navalny, even from the confines of his prison, saw the election as an opportunity for Russians to voice their dissent, and to weaken Putin’s hold on power.

“People are afraid,” he wrote in a letter to TIME in 2021. “But their hidden politicization is growing.”

As evidence, Navalny cited the way his election strategy, known as “smart voting,” played out during the local and legislative ballots held in many regions of Russia in the fall of that year. Despite widespread vote-rigging, Putin’s party barely clung to power in several of those regions. An independent analysis of voting patterns found that it was the worst result in the party’s history. Even in Putin’s hometown of St. Petersburg, the party won only a third of the vote in the race for city council.

“Yes, they falsified the vote to steal our victory,” Navalny wrote of those results. “But the fact remains: for the first time in 20 years under Putin, people voted in such massive numbers against him and his party.”

Another measure of the strategy’s success was the furious reaction it provoked from the regime. The Kremlin moved to ban websites that used the phrase “smart voting.” It declared Navalny’s activist group an “extremist organization” and began jailing its representatives across the country. Under pressure from Russian authorities, Google and Apple removed Navalny’s Smart Voting app from their app stores before the vote.

The crackdown made it nearly impossible for Navalny’s organization to operate in Russia. Its activists fled abroad or went into hiding, while the terms of Navalny’s confinement became increasingly brutal. Guards at his penal colony locked him in a “punishment cell” for the smallest of infractions, such as a failure to properly state his name during a roll call. (The filthy cells featured a speaker that played Putin’s speeches for hours, a tacit acknowledgement, Navalny joked, that the ranting of the president counts as a form of punishment.)

Still, in the weeks before his death on Feb. 16, Navalny and his allies prepared to run a smart-voting campaign during this month's presidential ballot. Their aim was to demonstrate that opposition to Putin remains widespread, and they came up with some clever ways to achieve that. In messages smuggled out of the prison, Navalny called on his supporters to show up at their local polling stations to vote precisely at noon on election day. The tactic would set the stage for hundreds if not thousands of anti-Putin flash mobs, which authorities would not be able to disperse without hindering the vote itself.

In marking their ballots, Navalny also urged voters to choose any name other than Putin. None of the other candidates are independent; their primary role in Russia’s electoral system is to give the process a thin veil of legitimacy. But Navalny argued that turning out to vote for any of these dummy candidates would be more effective than boycotting the elections.

“The goal is not to influence the voting results, which will be falsified anyway, and it is not to support any of Putin's puppets allowed on the ballot,” Yulia Navalnaya, the dissident's wife, who has taken up leadership of the opposition movement since his death, wrote in the Washington Post a few days before the ballot. “Alexei wanted this to be a national protest, emphasizing the illegitimacy of Putin’s election and the resistance of Russian civil society.”

He has already succeeded in unnerving the Kremlin from beyond the grave. Hundreds of people have been detained across Russia while publicly mourning Navalny’s death over the past month. Students in Moscow reported receiving threats of expulsion from their universities for attending any public rallies on the day of Navalny’s funeral.

Navalny’s longtime ally and former chief of staff, Leonid Volkov, was attacked with a hammer near his home in Lithuania on March 12, only three days before the start of voting in Russia. (Authorities in Lithuania blamed the attack on Moscow, but no arrests have yet been made.) While receiving treatment for his injuries, Volkov, who fled Russia several years ago to escape arrest, called the assault a typical “gangster’s greeting” from Putin. “We’ll keep working,” he said. “And we will not surrender.”

This weekend, no matter how predictable the results of the ballot may be, they will present Navalny’s allies with their best chance to put his political strategy into action. The ultimate goal he described in his prison letters is for Russia to hold free elections, and enough of them for democracy to take hold over time.

“Russia sorely needs at least 4-5 cycles of fair elections under the control of an independent judiciary before we finally break the vicious cycle of authoritarianism and determine, once and for all, that changes of power at every level will henceforth take place only this way.”

Throughout his career in politics, he dreamed of taking part in a presidential race like that, but the state under Putin kept him off the ballot every time. Now, a month after his death, Russian voters will get another chance to try his electoral strategy, and to test how much Navalny’s message will continue to shape political events.

time.com

Navalny Challenges Putin from Beyond the Grave

In the weeks before his death, Navalny prepared a protest campaign for this month's presidential ballot
time.com time.com
 
Vladimir Putin has always refused to refer to his main opponent in Russia by name, but now that Alexei Navalny is dead, he has changed tack.

After claiming his fifth term as president, he told reporters: "As for Navalny, yes he passed away, this is always a sad event."

He also suggested he had agreed Navalny could be part of a prisoner swap.

Navalny's colleagues say he was murdered in an Arctic jail by Russian authorities, who cite natural causes.

US President Joe Biden said at the time it was "yet more proof of Putin's brutality".

Mr Putin said on Sunday night that a few days before Navalny's death, he had been told by people who were not part of his administration of a planned swap "for some people" held in the West.

He said he had agreed immediately on condition that Navalny never came back: "But, unfortunately, what happened, happened."

Some have seen in the Russian leader's remarks an attempt to distance himself from Navalny's death. Exiled Russian journalist Roman Dobrokhotov said it was an attempt to show "it was unprofitable for me, I wanted to exchange him".

But Navalny's chief of staff, Leonid Volkov, said the Russian leader's remarks showed that "now he has decided he doesn't need to pretend any more".

Commentators believe Mr Putin has previously used Navalny's name only once, in 2013, when he was asked why he shunned it.

At the time, he argued Navalny was only one of many opposition leaders, even though he had recently come runner-up in Moscow's mayoral election.

Independent journalist Farida Rustamova suggested Russia's long-time leader now felt able to say his adversary's name, because in his eyes Navalny no longer posed a threat.

In his remarks, Mr Putin compared Navalny's death in jail to cases of people dying in custody in the US: "They've happened, and more than once."

Maria Pevchikh, a colleague of the late opposition leader, said she was lost for words at Mr Putin's cynicism.

It was Ms Pevchikh who said in the aftermath of Navalny's death that he was close to being exchanged for a Russian hitman serving a life sentence for murder in Germany.

Vadim Krasikov was jailed for life for the 2019 murder of a Chechen exile in a park in Berlin. Zelimkhan Khangoshvili had fought Russian troops as a rebel commander in Chechnya years before and later claimed asylum in Germany.

Two US citizens held in Russia were also part of the planned swap, according to Ms Pevchikh, who said negotiations had reached a final stage the day before Navalny's death on 16 February.

Although the Kremlin never confirmed that talks had been going on, President Putin had already indicated that Vadim Krasikov could be swapped for Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who has spent almost a year in a Russian jail.

Another American, Paul Whelan, has been held in Russian detention for more than five years, while US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was arrested last October.

The Russian leader has not mentioned Krasikov by name, referring last month to someone who had "due to patriotic sentiments, eliminated a bandit in one of the European capitals", implying that the killer had acted by himself.

Judges at Krasikov's trial ruled that the murder had been ordered by Russian state authorities and the government in Berlin expelled several Russian diplomats in response to the attack.

www.bbc.com

Putin finally names Navalny and claims he agreed prisoner swap

Russia's leader always refused to refer to the Kremlin critic by name, but now he is dead, that has changed.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 
Putin likely didn’t order death of Russian opposition leader Navalny, US official says

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. intelligence officials have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin likely didn’t order the death of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny in February, according to an official familiar with the determination.

While U.S. officials believe Putin was ultimately responsible for the death of Navalny, who endured brutal conditions during his confinement, the intelligence community has found “no smoking gun” that Putin was aware of the timing of Navalny’s death — which came soon before the Russian president’s reelection — or directly ordered it, according to the official.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.

Soon after Navalny’s death, U.S. President Joe Biden said Putin was ultimately responsible but did not accuse the Russian president of directly ordering it.

At the time, Biden said the U.S. did not know exactly what had happened to Navalny but that “there is no doubt” that his death “was the consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did.”



apnews.com

Putin likely didn’t order death of Russian opposition leader Navalny, US official says

U.S. intelligence officials have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin likely didn’t order the death of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny in February.
apnews.com apnews.com
 
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