Vladimir Putin finally speaks Alexey Navalny’s name, comments on his death and rumored prisoner swap

At a press conference after the polls closed in Russia’s presidential vote, Vladimir Putin commented on the recent death of Alexey Navalny.

Referring to the late opposition leader by name, which Putin has famously never done, the Russian president said:

“As for Mr. Navalny. Yes, he passed away. This is always a sad event. But we’ve had other cases when people passed away in places of detention. Doesn’t this happen in the U.S.? It’s happened more than once.”

Putin also stated that he had agreed in principle to release Navalny in a prisoner swap:

“A few days before Navalny passed away, some colleagues (not administration employees) told me that there was an idea to exchange Mr. Navalny for some people in prison in Western countries. You can believe me or not, [but] the person who was a speaking to me hadn’t finished their sentence [before] I said, ‘I agree.’ But, unfortunately, what happened happened.”

Putin added that he agreed to exchange Navalny on the condition that he would not return to Russia. “I agreed on one condition: We’ll [exchange] him but he cannot return, let him sit there. But this happens and nothing can be done about it,” he said.

Putin’s speech was broadcast on Russian state television channel Rossiya-24. According to Russian election officials, 80 percent of the ballots have already been counted and Putin is leading with 87 percent of the vote.