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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”.
Update from February 19th, 5:09 p.m: After the death of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, Russia continues to reject any interference from the West. “German representatives were informed that this situation is an exclusively internal matter of the Russian side, which, as already stated, will carry out a proper professional investigation in such cases,” wrote the Russian Embassy in Berlin on Telegram on Monday. Ambassador Sergei Nechayev had previously been summoned to the German Foreign Ministry by Annalena Baerbock (Greens).
The embassy continued to claim that the West was using the death of the opposition politician to stir up anti-Russian sentiment. At the weekend, thousands of people in Russia took to the streets for commemorative events – and some were arrested. Navalny died on Friday at the age of 47 in a prison camp in the far north of Siberia. Shortly afterwards, Russia answered questions about the circumstances of the death with sometimes bizarre reactions.
Reactions from Russia to Navalny’s death: “West is responsible”.
First report: Moscow – On Friday (February 16), Russian authorities declared the prominent and imprisoned Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny dead. He said he felt “unwell” after a walk in his prison camp in the far north of Russia and died, according to a statement from the Russian prison administration. Reactions have already come from dozens of Western countries blaming Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. He has remained silent so far, but those around him are speaking out – with bizarre explanations.
“Washington and Brussels are responsible for Navalny’s death,” said Russian State Duma spokesman Vyacheslav Volodin, according to the state agency Tass. “Nawalny’s death 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 was still ongoing, Volodin also added.
The spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, made similar comments. In view of the numerous and rapid reactions from the West, she spoke of a “self-exposure”. According to state media, she explained: “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 await official results of the investigation.
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 radio station Govorit Moskva with the words: “I think it was an accident, something like that can happen.” The Russian politician warned that the West would try to take advantage of Navalny’s death.
He said Russia had “no reason” to harm the imprisoned opposition politician. “Maybe it was a blood clot or another illness, that can happen to any of us at any moment,” said Tschabarov, who added: “The family is grieving, he was still young, but that’s just fate “That will happen to all of us under God.” You have to “be quiet and not make a fuss.”
Sergei Mironov, 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)