Putin publicly uttered the name “Navalny” for the first time

Vladimir Putin, speaking at a press conference following the results of the presidential elections in Russia, for the first time publicly spoke the name of Alexei Navalny and commented on his death in the colony.

“As for Mr. Navalny. Yes, he passed away. This is always a sad event. Well, we have had other cases where people in prison have died. Hasn't this happened in the United States? It happened, and more than once,” Putin said.

He also confirmed earlier reports in the press about the impending exchange of Navalny for Russians imprisoned in Western countries.

“By the way, I’ll tell you, it will be unexpected - a few days before Mr. Navalny passed away, some colleagues, not members of the administration, some people told me that there was an idea to exchange Mr. Navalny for some people who are in prison in Western countries. You may believe me, you may not... The person who spoke to me had not yet finished his sentence, but I said - I agree. But, unfortunately, what happened happened,” Putin said, noting that he agreed to exchange Navalny on one condition: “that we change him and that he does not return - let him sit there.”

Alexei Navalny died in a colony in the village of Kharp beyond the Arctic Circle on February 16. According to official data, death was due to “natural causes.” Navalny's relatives and associates accused Putin of murdering the politician.

Navalny was buried in Moscow at the Borisov cemetery on March 1. Tens of thousands of people came to say goodbye to him. The politician's supporters continued to bring flowers to his grave in the following days. On March 17, when the “Noon Against Putin” campaign invented by Navalny took place during the elections, Muscovites began bringing ballot papers with the name of the deceased politician written on them to Navalny’s grave.

Soon after Navalny’s death, reports appeared in the Western and Russian press about the impending exchange of Navalny for a man convicted in Germany to life imprisonment for the murder of FSB officer Vadim Krasikov. As reported, negotiations on the exchange were already at the final stage, and the last time Putin discussed it was on the day of Navalny’s death.

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