The popular newspaper Bild claims that Alexei Navalny died "perhaps shortly before his possible release" as part of a "detainee exchange" between the US, Russia and Germany.
"According to Bild, a prisoner exchange was planned between Moscow, Washington and Berlin. Putin wanted to get back the 'Tiergarten killer', an agent who shot a regime opponent in Berlin in 2019. He even hinted as much publicly in an interview with Tucker Carlson. There was talk of the possibility that Putin, in exchange, would release Navalny", writes the newspaper's website without providing further details on the matter.
"Navalny died on February 16, 2024, the day of the start of the Munich Security Conference. Exactly one month before the presidential elections in Russia. And perhaps shortly before his possible release" stated Bild.
Only two days before the start of the Conference, on Wednesday, a no-comment from the Kremlin had circulated in the media on a possible prisoner exchange with the United States which is demanding the release of former marine Paul Whelan and journalist Evan Gershkovich, both detained in Russian prisons on espionage charges.
The day before, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had spoken to Whelan in a rare phone call granted by Russian authorities.
For further information Agenzia ANSA The NGO Ovd-Info: "401 pro-Navalny demonstrators stopped in Russia" - News - Ansa.it In the first two days of demonstrations in memory of the dissident.
Biden: "Putin will pay a price" (ANSA)
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