The reported death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has sparked international outrage, with leaders and activists worldwide pointing fingers at Russian President Vladimir Putin and his government.
As the world grapples with the implications of Navalny’s demise, a crucial question looms: Should Vladimir Putin face repercussions for the death of the prominent critic?
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UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron minced no words, asserting that Putin must be held accountable. “There should be consequences,” he declared, emphasising that Navalny remained a vocal critic even while incarcerated. The British Foreign Office summoned the Russian Embassy to underscore their stance, holding the Russian authorities fully responsible.
World leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Joe Biden, were quick to attribute Navalny’s reported death to Putin’s actions. Zelensky, currently seeking aid for Ukraine’s defence against a potential Russian invasion, said: “It is obvious that he was killed by Putin.” Biden added: “There is no doubt that the death of Navalny was a consequence of something Putin and his thugs did.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who had temporarily sheltered Navalny in 2020 after he was poisoned, praised the Kremlin critic’s bravery and condemned the nature of the regime. “He has probably now paid for this courage with his life,” Scholz said.
Navalny’s imprisonment, his subsequent return to Russia, and the circumstances surrounding his death have triggered global outrage. Despite serving a 19-year prison sentence on extremism charges, Navalny continued his anti-corruption campaign from behind bars. German Chancellor Scholz noted that Navalny “could have lived safely in exile” but chose to return because of his deep belief in Russia.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs minced no words, calling Navalny’s death a brutal murder by the Kremlin. “That’s a fact, and that is something one should know about the true nature of Russia’s current regime,” Rinkēvičs stressed.
Navalny’s associates highlighted the lack of official notifications to his relatives within the stipulated 24-hour period. They confirmed his death on Saturday, February 17.
His wife, Yulia Navalnaya, appearing at the Munich conference, expressed scepticism, stating: “We cannot trust Putin and the Putin government. They always lie.”
