Alexei Navalny’s wife fights back tears as she calls on world to ‘punish’ Putin
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.
Paying tribute to the political activist’s bravery, Mr Biden said: “We don’t know exactly what happened to Navalny, but no doubt his death was the consequence of Putin and his thugs.”
Mr Navalny’s widow warned the Russian leader her husband’s death would not go unpunished.
Yulia Navalnaya said: “To Putin and all those who work for him, his entire entourage, his friends, I want them to know that they will not go unpunished.
“They will be punished for what they have done to our country, for what they have done to my family, for what they have done to my husband. They will be held responsible and this day will come.”
Prison chiefs said medical staff were unable to resuscitate Mr Navalny, who last month was moved to an Arctic jail, after he lost consciousness. It said the reason of death was being established.
Latvian president Edgars Rinkevics said he was “brutally murdered by the Kremlin”.
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Biden blames Putin for Navalny death
US leader Joe Biden has blamed Vladimir Putin directly for Alexei Navalny’s death.
“We don’t know exactly what happened to Navalny but no doubt his death was the consequence of Putin and his thugs,” the president said.
Paying tribute to the opposition leader, Mr Biden remembered him as a “powerful voice for the truth” and said his death was “proof of Putin’s brutality”.
Mr Biden urged congresspeople to pass the latest tranche of aid for Ukraine.
He wants Republican hardliners in Congress to support extra funding for more weaponry.
Jane Dalton16 February 2024 17:41
Watch: Putin should be ‘held accountable’ for death, says Cameron
Cameron: Putin should be ‘held accountable’ for death of Alexei Navalny
Jane Dalton16 February 2024 18:45
Watch: Zelensky says ‘obviously’ Navalny was killed by Putin
Zelesnky says ‘obviously’ Navalny was killed by Putin
Matt Mathers16 February 2024 18:33
Navalny’s friends warn of cover-up
Exclusive: Friends have shared memories of the “Martin Luther King of Russia” as they accuse the Kremlin of lying about the opposition leader’s death:
Jane Dalton16 February 2024 18:21
Biden says death ‘proof of Putin’s brutality’: full report
Biden says Navalny death is ‘proof of Putin’s brutality’
President Joe Biden on Friday said Russian president Vladimir Putin is responsible for the death of Alexei Navalny, the opposition leader who is reported to have died in a Russian penal colony in Siberia after several years of imprisonment for opposing Mr Putin’s regime.
Jane Dalton16 February 2024 17:57
Watch: Biden pays tribute to ‘brave’ Navalny
Biden pays tribute to ‘brave’ Navalny after death of Putin critic
Jane Dalton16 February 2024 17:46
Analysis: How Navalny’s death could backfire for Putin
The opposition leader’s death makes the Russian president’s fiercest critic a hero and a martyr, writes Mary Dejevsky:
Jane Dalton16 February 2024 17:45
Biden refuses to rule out new sanctions on Russia
Joe Biden refused to rule out further sanctions on Russia following Mr Navalny’s death.
He said he hoped to God the news would help pass aid for Ukraine.
Mr Navalny “bravely stood up to the corruption, the violence and all the bad things the Putin government was doing,” the US president said at the White House.
Jane Dalton16 February 2024 17:45
Flowers laid at monuments
In Moscow and other Russian cities, people laid flowers at monuments to victims of Soviet-era repression.
But there was no immediate indication Mr Navalny’s death would spark large protests, given that the opposition is already fractured and beleaguered. His death will deal it another heavy blow.
Jane Dalton16 February 2024 17:39
‘Almost no hope’ Navalny still alive
Mr Navalny’s spokeswoman has said there is almost no hope that he is alive. Kira Yarmysh had earlier said his team were still seeking confirmation of prison chiefs’ announcement.
Jane Dalton16 February 2024 17:34