President Biden on Friday responded to the news of the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, saying there was “no doubt” this was “the result of something done by President Putin and his thugs.” said.
Russian officials said Navalny reported feeling sick after a walk in the penal colony where he was imprisoned in Siberia, then lost consciousness and died.
“Make no mistake about it: Mr. Putin is responsible for Mr. Navalny’s death. Mr. Putin is responsible,” Biden told reporters at the White House. “What happened to Mr. Navalny is further evidence of Mr. Putin’s brutality. No one should be fooled, in Russia, at home or anywhere in the world.”
“We don’t know exactly what happened, but there is no doubt that Mr. Navalny’s death was the result of the actions of Mr. Putin and his thugs,” Biden added.
Navalny seen grinning in court video the day before his death
President Biden delivered a speech on the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny at the White House on Friday, February 16, 2024. (AP/Evan Vucci)
“Today, people across Russia and around the world are mourning Mr. Navalny because he had so much that President Putin didn’t,” Biden continued. “He was courageous, principled, and dedicated to building a Russia where the rule of law existed and applied to everyone. Mr. Navalny believed in Russia, that Russia, and that it would fight. “I knew it was a worthy cause, and I knew it was obviously about equality.” ”
In 2021, after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva, Switzerland, President Biden was asked about what would happen if Navalny died in Russian custody.
“We have made it clear that we believe the consequences will be catastrophic for Russia,” Biden said at the time.
GEN. Keene says Putin believes US and Europe are ‘knee-jerk’ to Ukraine
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny appeared in court via video link on Thursday, February 15, 2024, the day before his death was reported in a penal colony in northern Russia. (Russian Federal Prison/SOTAvision/AP)
When asked about the remarks Friday, Biden said: ”that was 3 years ago,” and“IDuring that time, they faced so many consequences,” he said, referring to Russian military losses in the Ukraine war and international sanctions imposed against his government.
Yulia Navalnaya, wife of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, responded in a speech at the Munich Security Conference on Friday. (Kai Pfaffenbach/Pool Photo/AP)
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“I just want to say, ‘God bless Alexei Navalny,'” Biden concluded. “His courage will be remembered.”
