As of: February 16, 2024, 2:21 p.m
By: Lisa Mahnke
Comments
Press
Split
The news of the death of Putin critic Alexei Navalny caused international outrage.
The reactions show anger, sadness – but also skepticism.
Moscow – Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny is said to have died in prison, Russian authorities claim.
International voices are now reacting to the alleged death of the most famous Kremlin critic.
Navalny's team has not yet been able to confirm the death, said spokeswoman Kira Jarmysch on X, formerly Twitter.
Reactions range from skepticism to regret and anger.
Within less than an hour, the hashtag #Nawalny was trending on Twitter.
Some blame Russian leader Vladimir Putin personally for Navalny's death.
In some cases, consequences are demanded for those responsible.
Regret in Germany and Europe: Navalny a “hero”
Germany's Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger (FDP) described the alleged death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny on X as a "crime".
He showed great courage by standing up to Vladimir Putin and fighting for freedom and human rights.
“Today is a black day,” said the FDP member.
“Today we don’t talk about heroes anymore.
But for me #Nawalny was a hero,” wrote Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD).
“No one should be deceived about Putin’s murderous system,” demanded Green Party leader Ricarda Lang.
Olaf Scholz, who met with Volodymyr Zelenskyj on Friday to support Ukraine, also initially addressed the Kremlin critic's death in the subsequent press conference.
During a visit, he spoke to the Russian opposition figure about the “great courage it takes to return to the country.”
“He has probably now paid for this courage with his life,” said the Chancellor.
Russia is “no longer a democracy.”
Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny has reportedly died in the penal colony.
© picture alliance/dpa/AP |
Alexander Zemlianichenko
“As the fiercest defender of Russian democracy, Alexei Navalny has shown incredible courage throughout his life,” wrote British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on X. “My thoughts are with his wife and the Russian people, for whom this is a tremendous tragedy.” The According to the
dpa,
French Foreign Minister Stéphane Sejourne
also expressed his regret: “His resistance to a system of oppression cost him his life.” According to Sejourne, Navalny's death is a reminder of the reality of the regime.
Critical voices question Navalny's alleged death: Putin responsible?
Former Deputy Interior Minister of Ukraine and current adviser to the office, Anton Gerashchenko, wrote on X: “To say 'Navalny died' is wrong.
'Navalny was murdered by Putin' is the right way to go." BBC journalist Francis Scarr was also skeptical and wrote, including video footage: "Yesterday, Navalny seemed to be doing well at a court hearing." Russian Nobel Peace Prize winner Dmitri Muratov described the death of the opposition also as murder.
My news
16 minutes ago
Alexei Navalny declared dead – Zelensky and Scholz speak together in Berlinlesen
29 mins ago
Navalny is dead according to the Russian authorities: Read the first report on the possible cause of death
“If you don’t want us as Bavaria …”: Söder threatens to leave the Federal Republic of Germany – and calls for compulsory military service
No GDR conditions: Saxony's Prime Minister Kretschmer gives Robert Habeck a pass
“Are under pressure”: Habeck is making people sit up and take notice when it comes to electric cars
24 mins ago
Söder opens Munich Siko – with a warning of “shame” for the West and a swipe at Trumplesen
EU Council President Charles Michel said, according to the
German Press Agency
, that the EU thinks so
“Russian regime solely responsible” for the supposed death of the Kremlin critic.
Navalny made “the ultimate sacrifice for his ideals”.
“It is obvious to me that he was killed,” said Ukrainian President Zelensky in the press conference held with Scholz.
Navalny declared dead in Russia: demand for consequences
Now the first calls for consequences began to emerge, for example from Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.
According to the dpa
, he wrote
that those responsible “must be brought to justice.”
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg demanded: “We have to clarify all the facts.”
The first changes are already beginning to appear on the Russian financial market in response to Navalny's alleged death.
After the alleged death became known, the national currency, the ruble, fell drastically to 93 rubles to the dollar.
(lismah/dpa)