He promised to impose a wide array of sanctions on Russia as well as President Vladimir Putin. Navalny, Putin’s fiercest critic, died last week in a remote prison camp in the Russian Arctic. Navalny’s family as well as several leaders have accused Putin’s involvement in the stunning death.
Navalny, 47, fell unconscious and died suddenly on Friday after a walk at the ‘Polar Wolf’ penal colony. He was serving a three-decade sentence there.
“He was a man of incredible courage and it’s amazing how his wife and daughter are emulating that,” Joe Biden said after meeting Navalny’s widow Yulia Navalnaya and daughter Dasha.
“We’re going to be announcing the sanctions against Putin, who is responsible for his death, tomorrow,” he announced while speaking to the media in California.
Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland also added that some of the “hundreds and hundreds and hundreds” of sanctions to be unveiled over the coming days would target those responsible for Navalny’s death.
The sanctions are aimed at targeting “Putin’s war machine” and closing the gaps in existing sanctions regimes. Notably, these developments are taking place simultaneously with the Russia- Ukraine war completing two years.
Conveying Condolences To Navalny’s Widow And Daughter
The White House said President Biden conveyed his “heartfelt condolences” to Navalny’s family. He expressed admiration for Navalny’s “extraordinary courage and his legacy of fighting against corruption, and for a free and democratic Russia where the rule of law applies equally to everyone”, the White House said.
“The President emphasized that Alexei’s legacy will carry on through people across Russia and around the world who are mourning his loss and fighting for freedom, democracy, and human rights. He affirmed that his Administration will announce major new sanctions against Russia tomorrow in response to Alexei’s death, Russia’s repression and aggression, and its brutal and illegal war in Ukraine,” said the statement.
Navalny’s Mother Resists Pressure On Secret Burial
Meanwhile in Russia, Alexei Navalny’s mother Lyudmila Navalnaya has accused Moscow authorities of attempting to coerce her into accepting a secret burial for her son, according to reports.
Navalnaya, aged 69, revealed that she was permitted to see her son’s body for the first time since his death under mysterious circumstances in prison. Navalny’s press secretary, Kira Yarmysh, disclosed that the authorities issued a death certificate citing “natural causes,” leading to suspicions of foul play.
Navalny’s family and supporters have alleged from the beginning that he was murdered, and they accuse Russian authorities of deliberately delaying the release of his body to conceal evidence. The reluctance to allow a public funeral suggests that Kremlin views gatherings of Navalny’s supporters as potential threat.
Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, faces threats of arrest if she returns to Russia. Unfazed, she has vowed to continue her husband’s fight for democracy. In her video address, Navalnaya accused President Putin of orchestrating her husband’s death. Navalny’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief and protest across Russia, with countless Russians paying tribute to the dead leader, despite the imminent risk of arrest.
Bengali