US President Joe Biden accused President Vladimir Putin of being ‘responsible’ for the death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny while appearing to stumble over his words.
“Russian authorities are going to tell their own story,” he claimed. “Make no mistake, make no mistake, Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death. Putin is responsible. What has happened to Navalny is yet more proof of Putin’s brutality,” said US Pres. Joe Biden.
World leaders and top officials also reacted to Navalny’s death.
Antony Blinken also claimed that ‘Russia is responsible’.
“Russia is responsible for this. We’ll be talking to the many other countries concerned about Alexei Navalny” said Antony Blinken, US Secretary.
While Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky alleged that it was ‘obvious’ that Vladimir Putin was behind the death.
“Alexei Navalny died in [a Russian] prison, obviously he was killed by Putin, like thousands of others. He was tormented, tortured because of this one person, Putin doesn’t care who dies as long as he retains his position, and that is why he must not keep anything. Putin must lose everything. He must lose everything, and be responsible for what he has done,” said Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz–whose country took in Navalny temporarily in 2020, praised his bravery.
“Courage was needed by his decision to return to Russia, now he has paid for it with his life,” said Olaf Scholz, German Chancellor.
Navalny’s wife calls for Putin to be punished at Munich Security Conference
Navalny’s wife, Yulia Navalyana, spoke at the Munich Security Conference and said that she did not know whether to believe the official Russian announcement.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Charles Michel held Putin and his government responsible for Navalny’s death.
“Putin fears nothing more than dissent from his own people,” said Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President.
“The EU holds the Russian regime solely responsible for this tragic death,” added Charles Michel, European Council President.
The US and Ukraine, and other countries have provided no evidence to back their assertions.
Kremlin blasts ‘Rabin statements’ of Putin critics over Navalny’s death
Meanwhile, Russian Presidential Spokesperson Dmitri Peskov accused Western leaders of making unacceptable’ statements.
“Obviously, these are absolutely rabid statements. There is no information about the cause of death. We consider such statements absolutely unacceptable and inappropriate,” said Dmitri Peskov, Russian Presidential Spokesperson.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that the instant reaction of NATO leaders to Navalny’s death in the form of direct accusations against Russia is self-disclosing.
“The instant reaction of NATO leaders to Navalny’s death in the form of direct accusations against Russia is self-disclosing,” said Maria Zakharova, spokesperson, Russian Foreign Ministry.
She also criticized the West for having conclusions although there’s yet to have a forensic examination.
“There is no forensic examination yet, but the West already has conclusions ready,” she added.
