The West holds Putin's regime responsible for the death of opposition figure Alexei Navalny

Highlights: The West holds Putin's regime responsible for the death of opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Navalny's assistant lawyer, Leonid Volkov, said that there is no way to confirm or deny that the Russian authorities killed their most prominent opposition figure. The Russian Foreign Ministry responded to the United States' accusation, saying that Washington was making accusations haphazardly. Russian authorities warned Moscow residents against any unauthorized demonstrations to protest the death. Russian opposition member Boris Akunin, who lives in Europe, indicated that Navalney's body could not withstand the torture he had been subjected to for 3 years.

The death of the most prominent Kremlin opponent, Alexei Navalny, on Friday in the Arctic penal colony, where he was serving a 19-year prison sentence, sparked a widespread wave of condemnation in the West, as a number of officials held the Russian president responsible.

Navalny during his appearance before the court in Moscow (European News Agency)

The death of the most prominent Kremlin opponent, Alexei Navalny, on Friday in the Arctic penal colony, where he was serving a 19-year prison sentence on charges of "extremism," sparked a widespread wave of condemnation in the West, as a number of officials held the regime of Russian President Vladimir Putin responsible.

Prison officials said that Navalny felt “ill” after walking in the morning, and lost consciousness as a result. The ambulance team intervened to save his life, but to no avail.

Navalny's assistant lawyer, Leonid Volkov, said that there is no way to confirm or deny that the Russian authorities killed their most prominent opposition figure, whom they imprisoned after he was arrested in January 2021, upon his return to Russia after receiving treatment in Germany as a result of being exposed to a poisoning attack. The Kremlin is behind it.

He was sentenced in March 2022 to 9 years in prison on “fraud” charges, and was later sentenced to an additional 19 years in prison.

Navalny's lawyer confirmed last April that his client does not receive the necessary medical care, and that the medication packages that his mother sends to him are returned to her, indicating that the authorities are letting Navalny's health gradually deteriorate.

"Punish Putin"

Navalny's wife stressed the need to punish Putin and hold him personally accountable for the atrocities committed against her husband, while Russian opposition member Boris Akunin, who lives in Europe, indicated that Navalny's body could not withstand the torture he had been subjected to for 3 years.

Russian authorities warned Moscow residents against any unauthorized demonstrations to protest the death of the prominent opposition figure, saying that the demonstrations would be a violation of the law.

United State

In the United States, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the Kremlin's "sloppy" history of harming its opponents "raises questions about what happened."

US Vice President Kamala Harris considered Navalny's death "an indication of Putin's brutality."

While US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken confirmed that Russia is “responsible” for Navalny’s death, and that his death in a Russian prison after he was placed there for fear of him reflects the “rot” in the system that Putin built, according to his description.

For its part, the Russian Foreign Ministry responded to the United States' accusation, saying that Washington was making accusations haphazardly, and called for restraint and waiting for the official results of the forensic examination.

United kingdom

In the United Kingdom, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron considered that the Russian president should be held accountable for the death of Navalny, against whom he had fabricated charges to imprison him.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that Navalny's death was "terrible news" as he was the fiercest defender of democracy in Russia, as he put it.

Ukraine

In Kiev, which Russia has been attacking for about two years, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky considered it "obvious" that Navalny was killed by the hands of Putin's regime, adding that this explains why Putin must be held accountable for his actions.

Germany

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned Navalny's death, saying that the oppositionist, who returned to Russia after undergoing treatment in Berlin following a poisoning attempt years ago, "has now paid with his life for his courage."

France

French President Emmanuel Macron accused Russia of issuing death sentences “on people of free thought,” expressing his anger over Navalny’s death in prison.

Italy

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni considered that Navalny's death during his detention was another sad page that represents a warning to the international community.

NATO

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg expressed his concern about Navalny's death in prison, saying that Russia must answer serious questions to clarify the cause of his death.

European Union

The European Union considered the Russian regime solely responsible for Navalny's death, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that Navalny's death is a "dark reminder of the nature of Putin and his regime."

United nations

On Friday, the United Nations expressed its feeling of "horror" over the news of the death of the Russian opposition figure in prison, calling on the Russian authorities to put an end to the persecution.

She added that if a person dies while in the custody of a state, it is assumed that the state is responsible, stressing that it is a responsibility that can only be refuted through an impartial, comprehensive and transparent investigation conducted by an independent body.

Source: Agencies