As of: February 16, 2024, 5:15 p.m
By: Bedrettin Bölükbasi
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Russian authorities report the death of Kremlin critic Navalny.
Putin's entourage is already blaming the West.
There is also talk of an “accident”.
Moscow - On Friday (February 16), Russian authorities declared the prominent and imprisoned Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny dead. In his prison camp in the far north of Russia, he felt "unwell" after a walk and died, according to the Russian statement Prison administration.
Reactions have already come from dozens of Western countries that blame Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.
He has remained silent so far, but those around him are speaking out - with bizarre explanations.
Reactions from Russia to Navalny's death: "West is responsible"
“Washington and Brussels are responsible for Navalny’s death,” said Russian State Duma spokesman Vyacheslav Volodin, according to the state agency Tass.
“The death of Navalny benefits Western politicians who have made a number of failed decisions and want to stick to their positions,” said Volodin.
“Their names are known, from the NATO Secretary General to the US leadership, to Scholz, Sunak and Zelensky, all of them are the culprits in Navalny’s death,” he continued.
The investigation into Navalny's cause of death is still ongoing, Volodin also added.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made a similar statement.
In view of the numerous and rapid reactions from the West, she spoke of a “self-exposure”.
According to state media, she said: “There is no result of the forensic investigation yet, but the West's conclusions are already available.” The Russian Foreign Ministry called on the USA and the West to show “restraint” and to accept the official results of the investigation wait.
Navalny declared dead by Russia: “Be quiet and don’t make a fuss”
Vladimir Chabarov, deputy head of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian Federation Council, spoke on the
Govorit Moskva
radio station with the words: “I think it was an accident, something like that can happen.” The West will try to get out of Navalny's death to develop an advantage, warned the Russian politician.
He said Russia had “no reason” to harm the jailed opposition politician.
“Maybe it was a blood clot or another illness, that can happen to any of us at any moment,” said Chabarov, who added: “The family is grieving, he was still young, but that is the fate that lies with all of us will happen to God.” You have to “be quiet and not make a fuss.”
Sergei Mironov, party leader of “A Just Russia – for Truth,” said, according to the state agency Tass: “The death of Alexei Navalny, who was convicted of extremism, is beneficial for many enemies of Russia.” Mironov’s party is classified as an opposition , but is considered close to Putin.
(bb)