Alexei Navalny death latest: Biden blames ‘Putin and his thugs’ as Russian opposition leader dies in jail
US president Joe Biden has blamed Vladimir Putin for the death in prison of the Russian leader’s fiercest critic, opposition leader Alexei Navalny, at the age of 47.
US president Joe Biden blames Putin for Navalny death
US president Joe Biden has attributed the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in prison at the age of 47, to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his associates. Biden stated that while the exact cause of Navalny's death is yet unknown, it is clear that it was a consequence of Putin's actions.
Mr Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, has also promised that those responsible for her husband's death will face justice and that they will be held accountable for what they have done to their country and her family.
UK security minister Tom Tugendhat has accused the Kremlin of murdering Mr Navalny in order to silence him and prevent him from criticising the government.
Navalny's death prompts international condemnation
Following Navalny's death, friends and allies of the Russian opposition leader have criticised Putin and accused him of murder. They believe that the Russian authorities will try to cover up the truth behind Navalny's death.
Although Russian prison officials have stated that Navalny died after collapsing during a walk at the Arctic penal colony he was serving his sentence in, his associates have called for independent confirmation of his death, as they do not trust the Russian government.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has also spoken out about Navalny's death and has condemned the Russian regime for its actions.
History of Putin's critics meeting mysterious fates
Alexei Navalny is not the first critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet a tragic end. Over the years, many of Putin's opponents have been jailed, silenced, or have suffered mysterious incidents. Some of these incidents involve poisonings, falls from windows, and plane crashes.
The death of Navalny once again highlights the dangerous circumstances faced by those who defy Putin's regime.
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called Navalny's death a wake-up call, reminding people that it is impossible to make deals or appease dictators like Putin.
