Following the news of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's reported death in an Arctic prison colony on Friday, Western leaders and their allies swiftly pointed fingers at the Russian government, asserting a connection to Navalny's demise.
Navalny, serving a 19-year term, reportedly lost consciousness during a walk at the prison and could not be revived by medical personnel, as per the AFP citing Russia's federal penitentiary service. According to media reports, Navalny was last seen in public, appearing gaunt in a prison uniform during a court hearing via video link on Thursday.
Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesperson, confirmed that Putin was informed of Navalny's death but stated he was not aware of the cause, as reported by Russian newspaper Kommersant.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asserted that it is "obvious" Vladimir Putin was directly behind Navalny's death. Speaking in Germany, Zelensky claimed that Putin cares only about maintaining his position, regardless of the consequences.
"He was killed by Putin, obviously. Like thousands of others who have been tortured," Zelensky stated, emphasizing the need to hold Putin accountable for his actions.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken remarked on Navalny's death, saying, "His death in a Russian prison and the fixation and fear of one man only underscores the weakness and rot at the heart of the system that Putin has built. Russia is responsible for this," as per news agency Reuters.
Poland's top diplomat, Radoslaw Sikorski, echoed Zelensky's perspective, holding Vladimir Putin "responsible" for Navalny's death. Sikorski highlighted the flawed charges and evidence in Navalny's trial, emphasizing Putin's culpability.
Exiled Russian opposition politician Dmitry Gudkov also attributed Navalny's death to Putin, terming it a "murder" orchestrated by the Russian leader. "Even if Alexei died from 'natural' causes, they were caused by his poisoning and further prison torture. The blood is on Putin's hands," Moscow Times quoted him as saying.
Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock asserted that Alexei Navalny's demise was linked to his role as a symbol for a free and democratic Russia. She stated on X (formerly Twitter), "Like no one else, Alexei Navalny was a symbol for a free and democratic Russia," adding, "That is precisely the reason he had to die. Alexey Navalny fought for a democratic Russia".
Finance Minister Christian Lindner echoed similar sentiments on the platform, accusing Putin of torturing Navalny to death for his advocacy of democracy.
Describing Navalny as the "fiercest advocate for Russian democracy", UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "This is terrible news. As the fiercest advocate for Russian democracy, Alexei Navalny demonstrated incredible courage throughout his life".
In a post on X, President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen said that "Putin fears dissent from his own people", characterising the death of Navalny "as a grim reminder of Putin's regime".
Navalny, 47, Russia's most prominent opposition leader, has gained a large following for his criticism of corruption in Vladimir Putin's Russia.
In a series of cases, he was sentenced to 19 years in prison on charges widely condemned by independent rights organisations and Western governments as retribution for his opposition to the Kremlin.
Late last year, he was transferred to a remote Arctic prison colony in Russia's Yamalo-Nenets region in northern Siberia.