The U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin likely did not order the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in February at an Arctic penal colony. While the Kremlin attempted to kill Navalny in 2020 by poisoning him with a Novichok nerve agent, Putin was likely not involved in his death earlier this year, according to sources familiar with the matter. The U.S. increased sanctions on Russia after Navalny’s death, with President Biden holding Putin responsible. Former President Trump also suggested Putin’s involvement in Navalny’s death.
Navalny, who had been in prison since 2021, was recovering in a hospital in Germany from his poisoning before he returned to Russia and was imprisoned. The Federal Penitentiary Service of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District in Russia reported Navalny’s death in prison after he collapsed following a walk. The exact cause of his death remains undetermined by the U.S., with Russian media speculating it was due to a blood clot. Navalny’s allies have expressed skepticism about the U.S. assessment that Putin did not order his death, with many believing the Russian president was involved.
Navalny’s death has been described as a major blow to political dissent in Russia, with his supporters and political analysts believing that Putin ordered his death to prevent his release in a potential prisoner swap with the U.S. both in Russia and internationally, many doubt that Navalny’s death was unintentional or not directed by Putin. Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation has claimed that Putin ordered his death, and Putin himself confirmed that they had agreed to a prisoner swap before Navalny’s death. Some analysts believe that Navalny was a high-value political prisoner, making it unlikely for his death to be unintentional.
The U.S. intelligence community, including the CIA, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the State Department, have assessed that Putin likely did not order Navalny’s death at the time it occurred. One factor in the assessment was that Navalny’s death overshadowed Putin’s reelection, which may have not been in his best interest at the time. However, Navalny’s allies and critics of Putin believe that the idea of Putin not being aware or approving of Navalny’s death is unrealistic given the political environment in modern-day Russia. European countries are also skeptical that Putin was not involved in Navalny’s death.
Former President Trump, in an interview with Fox News, expressed the possibility that Putin was to blame for Navalny’s death. Navalny’s death has raised questions about the state of political dissent in Russia and the level of control Putin exercises over the country. The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Russia following Navalny’s death, with President Biden directly holding Putin responsible. Despite differing assessments by various parties, Navalny’s death remains a contentious issue with many believing that Putin was involved in some way.
