WARSAW, Feb 26, 2024 (AFP) – Allies of late Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny said Monday that a deal to free him as part of a prisoner swap had nearly been reached when he died in prison. The 47-year-old Kremlin critic died on February 16 in an Arctic prison after spending more than three years behind bars, prompting outrage and condemnation from Western leaders and his supporters. Russian President Vladimir Putin “was offered to exchange […]
Tag: Navalny
Yulia Navalnaya says Putin blocking body handover
WARSAW, Feb 24, 2024 (AFP) – Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, accused President Vladimir Putin of “satanism” on Saturday for not allowing the body to be returned to his family. Navalny’s mother Lyudmila has said authorities are threatening to bury him on the grounds of the Arctic prison colony where he died earlier this month if she did not agree to a “secret” funeral. “You tortured him alive, now […]
“They’re blackmailing me”: Kremlin pressures Navalny’s mother for “secret burial”
The mother of Alexei Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s main opponent who died in an Arctic prison last week, said Thursday officials are pressuring her into a “secret” burial for her son. Lyudmila Navalnaya said she had been shown his body in the morgue in Salekhard, the nearest town to the remote prison, after several days of being barred from seeing her son. “Yesterday evening they secretly took me to the morgue where they showed […]
President Biden calls Russian leader a ‘crazy SOB’
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 22, 2024 (AFP) – US President Joe Biden called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a “crazy SOB” at a public fundraising event Wednesday, which the Kremlin decried as “shameful”. The 81-year-old leader has regularly had harsh words for Putin since Moscow’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine two years ago, including calling him a “butcher” and a “war criminal.” And on Wednesday he was no less direct. “We have a crazy SOB like that […]
UK sanctions six officials at Russian prison where Navalny died
LONDON, Feb 21, 2024 (AFP) – UK Foreign minister David Cameron said Wednesday that London had imposed sanctions on six officials at the head of the Siberian penal colony where Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny died. “Those responsible for Navalny’s brutal treatment should be under no illusion — we will hold them accountable,” Cameron said. The sanctioned individuals will be subject to freezes of any UK assets and travel bans. They include Vadim Konstantinovich Kalinin, […]
Europe demands answers, diplomats summoned after Navalny’s death
PARIS, Feb 19, 2024 (AFP) – A host of European governments Monday summoned Russian diplomats following the prison death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said during a visit to Argentina that Russia’s ambassador in Paris would be summoned, while Norway’s foreign ministry issued a statement that it was calling on its top Russian diplomat “for a talk” about Navalny’s death. “In the conversation, Norwegian views will be conveyed about […]
Russia jails dozens for mourning Kremlin critic Navalny
MOSCOW, Feb 18, 2024 (AFP) – Russian courts have sentenced dozens of people detained at events commemorating Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny to short prison sentences, official court announcements showed, with 154 sentenced in Saint Petersburg alone. Details of rulings published by the city’s court service on Saturday and Sunday showed 154 people had been given jail time of up to 14 days for violating Russia’s strict anti-protest laws. Rights groups and independent media outlets reported […]
Moscow warns against protests after Navalny death
MOSCOW, Feb 16, 2024 (AFP) – Moscow on Friday warned people against taking to the streets to protest, hours after the death of leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Images on social media showed people laying flowers at memorials to victims of political repression in honour of Navalny, who Russian authorities said had died on Friday in the Arctic prison colony where he was serving a 19-year sentence. The prosecutor’s office in the Russian capital said […]
Biden says Putin and ‘his thugs’ responsible for Navalny death
By Danny KEMP WASHINGTON, Feb 16, 2024 (AFP) – US President Joe Biden directly blamed Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Friday for the reported death of Alexei Navalny in prison, describing the Kremlin critic as a “powerful voice for the truth.” Saying he was “outraged,” Biden said he did not yet know exactly what had happened to 47-year-old Navalny, but that it was the fault of Putin and his “thugs.” “Make no mistake, Putin is […]
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny dies in prison
MOSCOW, Feb 16, 2024 (AFP) – Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died Friday in the Arctic prison colony where he was serving a 19-year-term, Russia’s federal penitentiary service said. Western governments immediately attacked the Kremlin over the death of the most outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin. Navalny lost consciousness after a walk and could not be revived by medics, the prison service said. “Navalny felt bad after a walk, almost immediately losing consciousness. […]
Kremlin critic Navalny moved to Arctic penal colony: allies
MOSCOW, Dec 25, 2023 (AFP) – Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been moved to a penal colony in the Arctic, allies said on Monday after over two weeks during which his whereabouts were unknown. Authorities transferred Russia’s most prominent opposition politician to an isolated penal colony three months before a presidential vote expected to easily hand Vladimir Putin a fifth term. “We have found Alexei Navalny,” his ally, Kira Yarmysh, said on social […]
Navalny ‘disappearance’ alarms UN expert
GENEVA, Dec 18, 2023 (AFP) – A United Nations rights expert said Monday that the “enforced disappearance” of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was alarming, demanding that Moscow immediately release him. The Kremlin critic’s lawyers have been prevented from meeting him since December 6, and he did not appear for a scheduled court hearing last Friday. “I am greatly concerned that the Russian authorities will not disclose Mr. Navalny’s whereabouts and well-being for such a […]





