Navalny, 47, died at an Arctic penal colony on February 16. The Kremlin has denied Russian state involvement in his death. Navalny’s death certificate stated that he died of natural causes, according to his supporters.
Biden meets Navalny’s widow and daughter, vows sanctions on Putin
Biden meets Navalny’s widow and daughter, vows sanctions on Putin
“Alexei Navalny could be sitting in this seat right now, right today. That’s not a figure of speech, it could and should have happened,” said Pevchikh.
“Navalny should have been out in the next few days because we got a decision about his exchange. In early February, Putin was offered to exchange the killer, FSB officer Vadim Krasikov, who’s serving time for a murder in Berlin, for two American citizens and Alexei Navalny.”
Pevchikh said she had confirmation that negotiations for the swap were in their final stages on the evening of February 15.
Navalny, she alleged, had been killed a day later because Putin could not tolerate the thought of him being free.
She said that businessman Roman Abramovich had been involved in some of the talks as a mediator with Putin. There was no immediate comment from Abramovich.
Russia accuses both men of espionage, something they deny.
Putin, who has yet to comment on Navalny’s death, had previously said that talks between Russian and US intelligence agencies were going on behind the scenes related to Gershkovich, but had made no mention of Navalny, whose name he does not usually mention publicly.
Speaking earlier on Monday, the Kremlin called allegations that Russian authorities had pressured the mother of Navalny over her son’s funeral absurd, saying Putin had not been involved in decisions on Navalny’s body.
A spokeswoman for Navalny said on Friday, Russian authorities had given his 69-year-old mother Lyudmila an ultimatum: Agree within three hours to lay him to rest without a public funeral, or he would be buried at the prison.
Asked if he would comment on the alleged official pressure put on Navalny’s mother, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday: “I can’t comment in any way because the Kremlin has nothing to do with this, so the Kremlin cannot exert pressure. This is another absurd statement by these [Navalny] supporters.
“They are almost all wanted [by the Russian authorities] and almost all of them are abroad. Their statements should be treated accordingly.”
Pevchikh said Navalny’s allies had been working since the start of the Ukraine war on a plan to get him out of Russia as part of a prisoner exchange involving “Russian spies in exchange for political prisoners”.
She said they had made desperate efforts and tried to find intermediaries, even approaching the late Henry Kissinger, but said Western governments had failed to show the necessary political will.
“Officials, American and German, nodded their heads in understanding. They recounted how important it was to help Navalny and political prisoners, they shook hands, made promises and did nothing.”