World leaders have reacted sharply to the information of the loss of life of jailed Russian opposition chief Alexei Navalny, accusing President Vladimir Putin’s regime of foul play.
On Friday, the Russian Jail Service issued an announcement saying that Navalny, who had been serving a three-decade sentence on prices of extremism, collapsed and died after a stroll on the ‘Polar Wolf’ Arctic penal colony.
The ‘Polar Wolf’ colony is among the many harshest in Russia’s jail system, situated in a spot with extreme winters.
Navalny, a whistleblower who rose to prominence greater than a decade in the past by documenting and talking publicly alleged corruption of officers, went on to develop into the one opposition chief of prominence towards Putin’s unchallenged rule.
Navalny’s household and a few Western leaders accused Putin and the Kremlin of murdering him in jail.
Yulia, Navalny’s spouse, stated she couldn’t be certain her husband was useless as a result of “Putin and his authorities… lie incessantly”.
“But when that is true, I need Putin, his complete entourage, Putin’s pals, his authorities to know that they’ll bear accountability for what they did to our nation, to my household, to my husband,” Reuters quoted Yulia as saying stated.
“This regime and Vladimir Putin should bear private accountability for all of the horrible issues they’ve been doing to my nation, to our nation, Russia, in recent times,” she added.
HOW THE WEST REACTED TO ALEXEI NAVALNY’s DEATH
Western leaders condoled Navalny’s loss of life, calling him a “fighter for freedom”.
With out citing proof, the US claimed that it was a political homicide and that Putin needs to be held accountable for the loss of life.
“His loss of life in a Russian jail and the fixation and worry of 1 man solely underscores the weak point and decay on the coronary heart of the system that Putin has constructed. Russia is accountable for this,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated shortly earlier than assembly Navalny’s spouse in Munich.
In an interview with NPR, White Home Nationwide Safety Adviser Jake Sullivan stated, “If it is confirmed, it’s a horrible tragedy. And given the Russian authorities’s lengthy and sordid historical past of doing hurt to its opponents, it raises actual and apparent questions on what occurred right here.”
In a submit on X, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated, “That is horrible information. Because the fiercest advocate for Russian democracy, Alexei Navalny demonstrated unbelievable braveness all through his life.”
In the meantime, British International Minister David Cameron demanded Putin to be held accountable for Navalny’s loss of life.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated the loss of life of Russian opposition chief Alexei Navalny was “disturbing”, including that it served as a warning to the remainder of the world. “We categorical our heartfelt condolences and hope that full readability can be revealed over this disturbing occasion,” Meloni stated in an announcement.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated, “I met Navalny right here in Berlin when he was attempting to get better in Germany from the poisoning assault and likewise talked to him in regards to the nice braveness it takes to return to his nation. And he has most likely now paid for this braveness along with his life.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated, “It’s apparent: he was killed by Putin, as hundreds of others have been tortured and martyred by this one ‘creature’. Putin doesn’t care who dies so long as he retains his place. And that’s the reason he shouldn’t maintain something. Putin ought to lose every thing and reply for what he has completed.”
French International Minister Stephane Sejourne stated, “Alexei Navalny paid along with his life for his resistance to a system of oppression. His loss of life in a penal colony reminds us of the fact of Vladimir Putin’s regime.”
In a submit on X, European Fee President Ursula Von Der Leyen stated, “Deeply disturbed and saddened by information of the loss of life of Alexei Navalny. Putin fears nothing greater than dissent from his personal folks. A grim reminder of what Putin and his regime are all about. Let’s unite in our struggle to safeguard the liberty and security of those that dare to face up towards autocracy.”
