In the aftermath of Alexei Navalny death, his wife said the world would soon learn why he died when he did.
On Monday, Navalny’s team released this video.
Navalny was supposed to be free in the coming days because we had achieved a decision on his exchange, Navalny ally Maria Pevchik alleges the russian security service hitman Vadim Krazikov, jailed in Germany for murder, would have been exchanged for Navalny, along with two unnamed us citizens who were also being held in Russia.
Navalny death: Ally says activist was about to be freed in prisoner swap
But Pevchik claims russian president Vladimir Putin had second thoughts and ordered Navalny be killed. Unable to tolerate his biggest critic being freed a month before presidential elections, the German government refused to comment on the swap story.
Among the two american citizens could have been Ottawa born former US Marine Paul Quelan, a dual citizen canadian American.
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Queelan is five years into a 16 year sentence for spying. He says he is a political hostage. He recently told the BBC he felt left behind by Washington. And earlier this month, before Navalny’s death, Putin had hinted that talks were ongoing to release U S Journalist Evan Gershkovich in a swap that would have involved the hitman Krasikov.
I do not rule out that the person you referred to, Mr. Gershkovic, may return to his motherland. The Wall Street Journal reporter is being held on spying charges that he denies Putin is not averse to prisoner swaps.
In 2022, american basketball star Brittany Griner was freed in exchange for russian arms dealer Victor Boot. He had been imprisoned in the US.
On Monday, the Kremlin denied allegations it had pressured Navalny’s mother into holding a private burial. She received his body on Saturday. His team now says it is looking for a suitable venue to hold a public funeral.