Alexei Navalny's wife fights back tears as she calls on the world to “punish” Putin.
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US President Joe Biden has blamed Vladimir Putin for the prison death of the Russian leader's harshest critic, opposition leader Alexei Navalny, at the age of 47.
Mr Biden praised the political activist's courage, saying: “We don't know exactly what happened to Navalny, but his death was undoubtedly the result of Putin and his thugs.”
Mr Navalny's widow warned the Russian president that her husband's death would not go unpunished.
Yulia Navalnaya said: “I want Putin and everyone who works for him, his entire entourage, his friends to know that they will not go unpunished.”
“They are being punished for what they did to our country, for what they did to my family, for what they did to my husband. They will be held accountable and that day will come.”
Prison chiefs said medical staff were unable to revive Mr Navalny, who was transferred to an Arctic prison last month after he lost consciousness. It was said that the cause of death was being determined.
British Security Minister Tom Stimmehat accused the Kremlin of murdering Mr. Navalny to silence him.
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No independent confirmation of Navalny's death yet, employees say: 'We can't trust Putin'
Employees of Alexei Navalny have stressed that they have not received any independent confirmation of his death in Russian law enforcement officials' reports.
His close ally Ivan Zhdanov said authorities had to “notify relatives within 24 hours,” but there had been no such notifications.
Navalny's wife Yulia Navalnaya, who appeared at the Munich conference, said she didn't know whether to believe the official Russian announcement because “we can't trust Putin and the Putin government. They always lie.”
“But if that is true, I want Putin and everyone around Putin, Putin's friends, his government, to know that they bear responsibility for what they did to our country, to my family and to my husband. And that day will come very soon,” she said.
Julia Navalnaya, wife of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, speaks on Friday at the 60th Munich Security Conference (MSC) in the “Bayerischer Hof” hotel in Munich
(EPA)
Stuti Mishra, February 17, 2024, 6:50 am
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“He was scared that day.” You could see it in his eyes.
A documentary filmmaker who followed Mr Navalny for two months before his arrest has shed light on his fateful decision to return to Russia.
“With our 20/20 hindsight, it is very easy to criticize this decision, especially in [light] today's terrible news. But that was Navalny's decision.
“It was incredibly courageous and courageous and was motivated by his patriotism. And I think history will continue to negotiate this decision for a very long time.”
Mr Roher also expressed fascinating and sometimes comical memories from his time with the opposition leader, such as when the politician questioned his habit of sketching while working.
When Mr. Roher explained that he had ADHD and that it helped him concentrate better, Mr. Navalny turned to his wife and said: “Oh, it's so nice that we hired a director with special needs. “
Mr. Roher described his subject as adept at filmmaking and with a good knowledge of American television shows such as “Breaking Bad,” who reflexively used humor to allay his nervousness.
“He was scared that day,” Mr. Roher said of the opposition leader’s final flight back to Moscow in January 2021. “You could see it in his eyes and I hope the film captures that.”
“He exudes determination and security on the outside, but when you look into his eyes it's clear he's nervous. And that’s very human.”
Io Dodds17. February 2024 06:00
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Trump's silence on Navalny's death sparks criticism from Nikki Haley
While Alexei Navalny's death drew strong reactions from international leaders, former President Donald Trump has remained silent, prompting criticism from his Republican rival Nikki Haley.
Joe Biden has blamed “Putin and his thugs” for the death of Russia's main opposition leader, but Mr Trump continued his attack on Mr Biden on Friday without mentioning anything about Navalny.
In a post on Truth Social, Mr. Trump wrote: “America is no longer respected because we have an incompetent president who is weak and doesn't understand what the world thinks.”
“I am the only one who can bring peace, prosperity and stability, as I did in my first term.”
His rival in the presidential race, Nikki Haley, criticized the former president for his friendly relationship with Vladimir Putin and his silence.
“Donald Trump continues to stand with Vladimir Putin – a man who kills his political opponents, holds American journalists hostage and never hides his desire to destroy America,” Ms. Haley said in an official statement.
In a separate post on Posted on social media about his legal drama and fake polls.”
Stuti Mishra, February 17, 2024, 5:10 am
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“With his death, this hope dies”
Muscovites who attended a makeshift memorial service for Mr. Navalny praised him as a “symbol of hope” and a courageous figure.
In an interview with the French news agency AFP, Valeria, a tour guide, described Mr. Navalny as “a symbol of opposition, a symbol of hope for a better future for Russia.”
Now, she added, “there is a feeling that with his death that hope dies. If there was any hope at all, it is now even less than before.”
Vladimir, a retired psychologist whose voice appeared to tremble with sadness as he spoke, said Mr. Navalny had been “a fundamental aspect of our lives.”
“His courage was seen in many different circumstances. Of course it’s very hard,” he said.
Other Muscovites were more confident. “Anything can happen in life. “Honestly, I think it's fate,” a woman named Tatania said, according to CNN.
A man named Mikhail expressed joy at Mr. Navalny's death, saying that “enemies” of Russia should be eliminated “the sooner the better.”
Io Dodds17. February 2024 04:49
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Chancellor says Navalny's death shows “what kind of regime is in power in Moscow”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose country temporarily welcomed Alexei Navalny in 2020 after he was poisoned with a nerve agent, praised the Kremlin critic's courage and said his death made clear “what kind of regime this is.” [Russia] Is”.
“I am deeply saddened by the death of Alexei Navalny,” Mr. Scholz wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“He stood up for democracy and freedom in Russia – and apparently paid for his courage with his life.”
“This terrible news shows once again how Russia has changed and what kind of regime is in power in Moscow.”
Mr Scholz previously addressed the media alongside Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky after signing a bilateral security agreement. He said he met Navalny in Berlin during his recovery and spoke to him there about “the great courage it takes to return to your country.”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (r.) speaks to reporters in Berlin on Friday with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Chancellery
(AFP/Getty)
Stuti Mishra17. February 2024 04:10
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Former Fox News host criticized for soft-soap interview with Putin
“Don’t forget that a few days ago, Putin’s favorite useful idiot, Kremlin propagandist Tucker Carlson, gave not the slightest thought about Navalny’s life when asked about him,” said host Meghan McCain.
Former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney, who was forced from office by her party because of her opposition to Donald Trump, also told Mr. Carlson: “This is Putin’s Russia.”
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a Russian opposition leader and former oligarch living in exile in London, also publicly called for accountability from Mr. Carlson.
In a statement to The New York Times on Friday, Mr Carlson said: “It is terrible what happened to Navalny. The whole thing is barbaric and terrible. No decent person would defend it.”
He claimed that his exculpatory comments about Mr Putin at a conference on Monday – “Every leader kills people” – did not refer to Mr Navalny and had “nothing” to do with his death.
Io Dodds17. February 2024 03:40
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The mysterious fates of Vladimir Putin's critics and rivals
But his death is just the latest in a long line of critics of Vladimir Putin who have been jailed, silenced or brutally murdered over the years.
Numerous opponents of the Russian president appear to have fallen victim to poisoning, mysterious falls from windows and plane crashes.
Below, Alexander Butler And Gustaf Kilander Check out some of the high-profile deaths and mysterious incidents involving those who opposed the Russian leader over the years.
Stuti Mishra, February 17, 2024, 3:08 am
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“You can’t make a deal with Putin”
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called the death a wake-up call for people in the US and Europe who believe they can “somehow make a deal” with Vladimir Putin.[peopleintheUSandEuropewhothinktheycan“somehowmakeadeal”withVladimirPutin[peopleintheUSandEuropewhothinktheycan“somehowmakeadeal”withVladimirPutin
“A dictator such as he is has only one intention of dominating – even if that means killing the opposition, as he has done to so many people over so many years, or attacking and attempting to attack a peaceful neighbor “To bend him to his will, then he will be enough,” the former presidential candidate told CNN.
Io Dodds17. February 2024 02:36
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“Navalny’s death exposed the cowardice of a US spokesman”
Mr. Navalny's death exposes the hypocrisy of American politicians who speak out against Vladimir Putin but refuse to substantively oppose his war in Ukraine, according to our Washington DC bureau chief Eric Garcia writes.
Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the US House of Representatives, joined President Biden on Friday in claiming that Mr Putin was “likely directly responsible” for Mr Navalny's death.
“As Congress debates the best path to support Ukraine, the United States and our partners must use every means available to disrupt Putin’s ability to finance his unprovoked war in Ukraine and his aggression against the Baltic states,” said Johnson.
But as Eric points out, Mr. Johnson has done more than almost anyone to torpedo Ukraine's war funding out of deference to the right wing of his party, even rejecting a bipartisan deal that would impose sweeping new immigration restrictions in return.
Io Dodds17. February 2024 01:33
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Vigils from Serbia to Israel
In the Serbian capital Belgrade, hundreds of Russians and others lit candles and laid flowers in front of the Russian embassy.
Tens of thousands of Russians have moved to Serbia, a Slavic country, since Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago.
Hundreds also gathered in the Georgian capital Tbilisi, which has also seen a huge influx of Russians since the invasion of Ukraine.
Some held banners reading “Putin is the murderer” and “We will not forgive.”
Up to 300 people attended a similar rally in Batumi, Georgia's third-largest city.
Protesters also gathered in the Armenian capital Yerevan, another country that attracted large numbers of Russians after the war began in Ukraine.
In Israel, where many people from Russia live, hundreds gathered in front of the Russian embassy in Tel Aviv and chanted “Russia without Putin!” and “Russia will be free!”
Demonstrators also gathered in front of Russian embassies in Berlin and the Bulgarian capital Sofia.
A man in Belgrade holds banners of Alexei Navalny that read: “My people are forced to kill their brother's people, my president has been assassinated.”
(EPA)
Jane Dalton17. February 2024 00:01