Navalny was about to be freed in a prisoner swap, says ally

Russian opponent Alexei Navalny was close to being freed in a prisoner exchange at the time of his death, Navalny's ally Maria Pevchikh said on Monday (26), reinforcing the accusation that President Vladimir Putin ordered his death. .

Pevchikh said there were negotiations over the release of Navalny and two unidentified US citizens in exchange for Vadim Krasikov, a Russian security service (FSB) assassin imprisoned in Germany.

According to the ally, the negotiations were in the final phase at the time of the Kremlin critic's death.

Navalny, 47, died in an Arctic penal colony on February 16. The Kremlin has denied that Russia had any involvement in his death. Navalny's death certificate states that he died of natural causes, according to those close to him.

Pevchikh did not name the two American citizens in dispute to be exchanged along with Navalny. But the United States has said it is trying to free Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, and Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine.

“Alexei Navalny could be sitting in this seat right now. This is not a figure of speech, it could and should have happened,” said Pevchikh.

“Navalny should have left in the next few days because we have a decision on his exchange. In early February, Putin was offered to exchange the killer, FSB officer Vadim Krasikov, who is serving a sentence for murder in Berlin, for two American citizens and Alexei Navalny,” he added.

Pevchikh said he had confirmation that negotiations for the exchange were in the final stages on the evening of February 15.

Navalny, she claimed, was killed a day later because Putin could not tolerate the idea of ​​him being free.

Pevchikh said Navalny's allies have been working since the start of the war in Ukraine on a plan to get him out of Russia as part of a prisoner swap involving “Russian spies in exchange for political prisoners.”

She said they made desperate efforts and tried to find intermediaries, even approaching the late Henry Kissinger, but said Western governments had failed to demonstrate the necessary political will.

“The authorities, both American and German, nodded in understanding. They told how important it was to help Navalny and the political prisoners, they shook hands, made promises and did nothing.”