West calls Alexei Navalny a ‘freedom fighter’, calls for Putin to be ‘held accountable’
World leaders have reacted sharply to the news of Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny diesThe regime of President Vladimir Putin was accused of dishonesty.
On Friday, the Russian prison service issued a statement saying that Navalny, who is serving a three-decade sentence on extremism charges, fainted and ‘Polar wolf’ dies after strolling into Arctic penal colony,
The ‘Polar Wolf’ colony is one of the harshest colonies in the Russian prison system, located in a location with severe winters.
Navalny, a whistleblower who rose to prominence more than a decade ago by documenting and publicly speaking out against alleged corruption by officials, has become the only opposition leader to rise to prominence against Putin’s unquestioning rule.
Navalny’s family and some Western leaders accused Putin and the Kremlin of murdering him in prison.
Navalny’s wife Yulia said she did not believe her husband was dead because “Putin and his government … are constantly lying”.
“But if it’s true, I want Putin, his entire entourage, Putin’s friends, his government to know what they have done to our country, to my family, to my husband,” Reuters quoted Yulia as saying. , They will take responsibility for it.” ,
“This regime and Vladimir Putin must bear personal responsibility for all the terrible things that have been done to my country, our country, Russia in recent years,” he said.
How the West reacted to the death of Alexei Navalny
Western leaders mourned Navalny’s death and called him a “fighter for freedom.”
Without citing evidence, the US claimed it was a political assassination and that Putin should be held responsible for the death.
“His death in a Russian prison and the concern and fear of one man underlines the weakness and rot at the heart of the system Putin built. Russia is to blame,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said shortly before meeting Navalny. ” Wife in Munich.
In an interview with NPR, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said, “If this is confirmed, it is a terrible tragedy. And given the Russian government’s long and sordid history of harming its adversaries.” , It raises real and obvious questions about what happened right here.”
In a post on Twitter, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said, “This is terrible news. As Russian democracy’s most fierce advocate, Alexei Navalny demonstrated incredible courage throughout his life.”
Meanwhile, British Foreign Minister David Cameron sought to hold Putin responsible for Navalny’s death.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was “disturbing”, adding that it was a warning to the rest of the world. “We offer our heartfelt condolences and hope full clarity emerges on this disturbing incident,” Meloni said in a statement.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said, “I met Navalny here in Berlin as he was trying to recover from the poisoning attack in Germany and also talked to him about how much courage it takes to return to his country.” It does. And they’ve probably paid for it now.” Have courage with your life.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, “It is clear: he was killed by Putin, because this one ‘creature’ tortured and martyred thousands of others. Putin does not care who he is as long as he remains in office.” Who lives, who dies. And that’s why he should keep nothing. Putin should lose everything and answer for what he has done.”
French Foreign Minister Stephane Séjourn said, “Alexey Navalny paid with his life for his resistance to a system of oppression. His death in a penal colony reminds us of the reality of Vladimir Putin’s regime.”
In a post on Twitter, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, “Deeply disturbed and saddened by the news of Alexei Navalny’s death. Putin fears nothing more than the discontent of his own people. What is Putin and his regime Let us be united in our fight to protect the freedom and security of those who dare to stand against tyranny.”