US intelligence agencies say Russian President Putin probably did not order killing of rival Navalny
published by, Shankyanil Sarkar
Last updated:
London, United Kingdom (UK)
Some Russians living in exile, as well as Putin’s critics, claimed that Alexei Navalny was killed KGB execution style by prison officers on the orders of the Russian President. (Image: Reuters)
Alexei Navalny, a critic of the Kremlin and Putin, died in an Arctic prison camp earlier this year. His supporters say that he has been murdered.
US intelligence agencies have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin likely did not order the killing of opposition politician Alexei Navalny in an Arctic prison camp in February, the Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.
Navalny, 47, was Putin’s staunchest domestic critic when he died. His associates, whom authorities have labeled extremists, have accused Putin of orchestrating his assassination and have said they will provide evidence to support their allegations.
The Kremlin has denied any state involvement. Last month, Putin described Navalny’s death as “tragic” and said he was willing to hand the jailed politician over to the West in a prisoner swap, provided Navalny never returned to Russia. Navalny’s allies said such talks were ongoing.
US intelligence agencies have concluded that Putin probably did not order Navalny’s killing in February, the Journal said Saturday, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter.
It said Washington has not absolved the Russian leader of overall responsibility for Navalny’s death, however, as the opposition politician had been targeted by Russian authorities for years, jailed on charges that the West dismissed. Reportedly politically motivated, and poisoned with a nerve agent in 2020. ,
The Kremlin denies state involvement in the 2020 poisoning.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Saturday that he had seen the journal’s report, which he said contained “hollow speculation.”
Asked about the case, Peskov told reporters, “I’ve seen the material, I wouldn’t say it’s high-quality material that deserves attention.”
Reuters Journal could not independently verify the report, citing sources that said the findings “are widely accepted within the intelligence community and have been widely acknowledged by many, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the State Department.” Shared by agencies.” Intelligence unit.”
The newspaper, citing some of its sources, said the US assessment was based on a range of information, including some classified intelligence and analysis of public facts, including the timing of Navalny’s death and how it affected Putin’s re-election in March. Fell.
It cited Leonid Volkov, a senior Navalny aide, as calling the US findings naive and ridiculous.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Reuters)
