The United States, NATO and the European Union attack Russia and Vladimir Putin after the news of the sudden death of opponent Alexei Navalny in prison in Kharpin the Arctic region of Yamalo Nenets from the Russian Arctic, where he had recently been transferred to serve a 19-year sentence. From Ursula von der Leyen a Joe Bidenuntil Jens Stoltenberg they pointed the finger at Moscow and the persecution of the president’s main opponent at home. But from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federation they reply: “You already had the accusations ready.”
Among the first to comment on the news attacking Russia is the president of the EU Council, Charles Michelwho points the finger at the Moscow establishment: “Alexei Navalny fought for the values of freedom and democracy. For his ideals she made the ultimate sacrifice. The EU believes the Russian regime alone responsible of this tragic death. I offer my deepest condolences to her family and to those fighting for democracy around the world in the darkest of conditions. Fighters die but the fight for freedom never ends.” The President of the EU Parliament, Roberta Metsola, aligns himself with his Belgian colleague by stating that “the world has lost a fighter whose courage will resonate across generations. Horrified by the death of the winner of the Sakharov Prize Alexei Navalny. Russia took away his freedom and his life, but not his dignity. His fight for democracy lives on. Our thoughts are with his wife and her children”. The president of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, takes inspiration from the tragedy to ask for even more unity against Putin: “Deeply disturbed and saddened by the news of Alexei Navalny’s death. Putin fears nothing but the dissent of his own people. A sad reminder of what Putin and his regime represent. Let us unite in our fight to safeguard the freedom and safety of those who dare to oppose theautocracy“.
Even from the main European chancelleries there are expressions of closeness to the family and accusations directed at the Kremlin. The French president is very harsh, Emmanuel Macronwho writes on X: “In today’s Russia, free spirits are put in the gulag and they are condemned to death. Anger and indignation.” While the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholzsays Navalny “he paid for his courage with his life– and accuses Russia that “it has long since ceased to be a democracy”. For the Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani“after years of detention in a prison regime that is not exactly liberal Russia loses a free voice. Now there will be one less voice of freedom.”
Even from White House condolence messages arrive. The first to speak is the National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivanwhich talks about “terrible tragedy“, the “long and sordid history of mistreatment of Kremlin opponents raises real questions about what may have happened in this case.” The vice president Kamala Harris claims that this is “another sign of the Putin’s brutality. Whatever Moscow says, Russia is responsible for his death.” But the harshest words come directly from President Biden: “Vladimir Putin is responsible for the death of Alexei Navalny. We don’t know exactly what happened but there’s no doubt that it’s a consequence of something they did Putin and his henchmen“, he said, using the issue to also push for the green light for the allocation of funds to Ukraine which is not scheduled in the Chamber.
The secretary general spoke for NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, demanding that “all the facts be verified and Russia must answer all questions about the causes” of this death. “I am deeply saddened and very worried – he added – Alexei Navalny was a very strong voice for freedom, for democracy and for this reason the NATO allies have long called for his immediate release”. The United Nations instead they said “indignant” and urged the Russian authorities to ensure that it is carried out a “credible” investigation about his death. “If someone dies in state custody it is assumed that the state is responsible, a responsibility that can only be refuted through an impartial, thorough and transparent investigation conducted by an independent body,” said the spokeswoman for the Office of United Nations for Human Rights Liz Throssel in a statement released in Geneva.
The response was immediate Mosca who rejects any type of accusation regarding the sudden death of the opponent: “The immediate reaction of the leaders of the Nato to the death of Navalny, in the form of accusations directed against Russia”, shows the nature of these countries, the spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry writes on Telegram, Maria Zakharova. “There is no forensic examination yet, but the West’s conclusions are already ready.” The speaker of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodindeclared that Western leaders “have made a large number of failed decisions and are clinging to their positions benefiting from his death“.