Alexei Navalny’s Death and US Intelligence Assessment
US intelligence agencies have suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin likely did not order the killing of opposition figure Alexei Navalny at an Arctic prison camp in February. The Wall Street Journal reported that Putin probably did not personally order Navalny’s death.
Background on Navalny and Putin
- Navalny, a prominent critic of Putin in Russia, passed away at the age of 47.
- His allies, labeled as extremists, accused Putin of orchestrating Navalny’s killing.
- The Kremlin denied state involvement, with Putin expressing willingness to exchange Navalny with the West.
US Intelligence Assessment and Kremlin’s Response
Unnamed sources familiar with the situation revealed that US intelligence agencies believe Putin did not give the order to have Navalny killed in February. While Washington has not fully cleared Putin of responsibility, it acknowledges Navalny was targeted by Russian authorities for years.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the report as “empty speculation,” calling it low-quality material that does not deserve attention.
Details Surrounding Navalny’s Death
Navalny’s death occurred after he went for a walk at his Siberian penal colony, complained of feeling unwell, and collapsed without regaining consciousness. His family confirmed his passing on February 16.
The prison authorities claimed Navalny experienced “sudden death syndrome,” as reported by his team.
