U.S. President Joe Biden held Russian President Vladimir Putin responsible for the demise of Navalny.
In his remarks on Navalny’s death, Biden said, “Reports of his death if they’re true and I have no reasons to believe that they’re not — Russian authorities are going to tell their own story but make no mistake Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death. Putin is responsible. What has happened to Navalny is yet more proof of Putin’s brutality no one should be fooled not in Russia not at home not anywhere in the world.”
Alexey Navalny, a vocal critic of the Kremlin and considered Putin’s most significant domestic adversary, reportedly fell into unconsciousness and passed away on Friday, as per reports from state media.
Biden on the reported death of Alexei Navalny: “Make no mistake: Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death… What has happened to Navalny is yet more proof of Putin’s brutality.” pic.twitter.com/hpO5mfHftF
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) February 16, 2024
“He added, “Not only does Putin target citizens of other nations, as we’re currently witnessing in Ukraine, but he also commits grave offenses against his own people. Today, people in Russia and around the world are mourning Navalny, who embodied many qualities that Putin lacks.”
He stated that Navalny courageously confronted the corruption, violence, and all the negative actions perpetrated by Putin’s government.
Biden articulated that Navalny had the option to reside securely in exile. Nevertheless, he chose to go back to Russia, fully aware of the potential consequences of imprisonment or even death if he persisted with his work.
Biden expressed that, in line with the sentiments of millions globally, he was both unsurprised and incensed by the reported demise of Alexei Navalny. Navalny courageously confronted the corruption, violence, and other malpractices of Putin’s administration. As a counteraction, Putin orchestrated his poisoning, arrest, and prosecution on trumped-up charges. He was sentenced to prison and kept in isolation. Yet, none of these measures deterred him from exposing Putin’s falsehoods.
The US President acknowledged that Navalny remained a potent advocate for truth, even from within the confines of prison, and exhibited no fear in his decision to return to Russia.
“Even in prison, he was a powerful voice for the truth which is kind of amazing when you think about it and he could have lived safely in exile after the assassination attempt on him in 2020 which nearly killed him I might add and but he was traveling outside the country at the time. Instead, he returned to Russia knowing he’d likely be imprisoned or even killed if he continued his work but he did it anyway because he believed so deeply in his country, in Russia,” he added.
Biden referred to Navalny as ‘courageous, ethical, and committed to establishing a Russia where justice prevailed and was applicable to all’. He further stated that Navalny had faith in Russia, a cause he deemed worthy of battle.
In his statement, Biden extended his sympathies to Navalny’s family and advocated for financial support to Ukraine. He emphasized that such aid was crucial for Ukraine to protect itself ‘against the brutal attacks and war crimes perpetrated by Putin’.
He emphasized the importance of dismissing the remarks made by the former US President, Donald Trump, which he claimed encouraged Russia to attack NATO allies if they failed to meet their financial obligations.
He said, “Now as I’ve said before and I mean this in a literal sense history is watching the House of Representatives the failure to support Ukraine at this critical moment will never be forgotten it’s going to go down on the pages of history.”
“It is, it’s consequential and the clock is ticking and this has to happen. We have to help now you know we have to realize what we’re dealing with with Putin all of us should reject the dangerous statements made by the previous president that invited Russia to invade our NATO allies if they weren’t paying,” Biden added.
Asked whether Navalny was assassinated, Biden said, “We don’t know exactly what happened, but there’s no doubt that the death of Navalny was the consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did.”
Al Jazeera, citing state media, reported on Friday that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has passed away while in custody.
The demise of the incarcerated Russian opposition leader, aged 47, has been announced by state media. They further referenced the prison service of the Yamalo-Nenets region, where he was fulfilling his sentence.
According to a statement referenced by Al Jazeera, the prison service of the Yamalo-Nenets region reported that Navalny experienced discomfort following a walk and swiftly lost consciousness. The statement was originally released by state media.
ALSO READ | UK voters deliver double blow to Rishi Sunak