Putin says before Navalny died he had agreed to exchange him for prisoners held in the West. In response to a question from our sister network NBC News, the Russian leader assured that the pact would have included a prohibition on his return to Russia.
Five sources told NBC News that such an agreement was being negotiated but was not imminent when Navalny death on February 16 at the age of 47. His supporters have alleged that Putin had him killed to thwart an imminent exchange that would have freed him and two Americans.