Putin did not order death Alexei Navalny, US intelligence services say

US intelligence agencies conclude Putin likely did not order Navalny's death. Biden holds Putin responsible. Navalny's death remains a mystery.

The United States Intelligence agencies have reached the conclusion that Russian President Vladimir Putin "probably" did not give the order for the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, as reported by US media over the weekend. While US officials have not been able to determine the exact cause of Navalny's death in February, a report distributed among various US Government agencies suggests that Putin may bear some responsibility, but did not directly order the killing of the opponent.

President Joe Biden has directly blamed Putin for Navalny's death and imposed sanctions on Russia in response. When asked if he believed Navalny's death was a "murder", Biden stated that while the exact events are unclear, it is evident that Putin and his associates are responsible for what happened to Navalny.

Navalny, who survived a poisoning attempt in 2020, passed away after falling ill during a walk in prison, despite efforts by medical staff to revive him. His transfer to a prison in the Arctic Circle had raised concerns about his health, especially after a hunger strike in early 2021 resulted in significant weight loss.

The aftermath of Navalny's death continues to reverberate in Russia, with journalists and collaborators being arrested for their association with the late opposition leader's social media networks. The arrests of Sergei Karelin and Konstantin Gabov, as well as others, highlight the crackdown on dissenting voices in the country, with media outlets being shut down and journalists forced into exile.

The situation in Russia underscores the challenges faced by independent media and journalists in reporting on sensitive political issues, with the government cracking down on those who speak out against the regime. The arrests and censorship of journalists like Karelin, Gabov, and Mingázov highlight the ongoing struggle for freedom of speech and press in Russia amidst growing tensions with the West.