President Joe Biden made remarks regarding the reported death of Alexei Navalny, a prominent Russian opposition leader and critic of Vladimir Putin. Navalny reportedly died in a Russian prison, with Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service announcing that he lost consciousness after a walk but did not provide an official cause of death[2]. President Biden directly attributed Navalny’s death to Vladimir Putin, stating, “Make no mistake: Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death.” He expressed both a lack of surprise and outrage over the incident, emphasizing Navalny’s bravery and dedication to fighting for a Russia governed by the rule of law[2].
Biden criticized Putin’s regime for targeting its citizens and committing crimes against its own people, highlighting Navalny’s imprisonment on fabricated charges and a previous assassination attempt by poisoning in 2020. He praised Navalny for his courage in speaking out against Putin’s regime despite the consequences[2]. Biden also referenced his warning to Putin in 2021 about the “devastating” consequences if Navalny were to die in prison, noting that Russia has already faced significant consequences, including over 350,000 Russian soldiers lost or wounded and extensive sanctions due to the invasion of Ukraine[2].
In his remarks, Biden also condemned former President Donald Trump for his recent comments on NATO and criticized Republican members of Congress for delaying further aid to Ukraine. He emphasized the importance of NATO unity and the U.S.’s commitment to defending NATO territory against any threats posed by Putin’s Russia[2].
Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Navalny’s wife, Yulia, expressing sorrow and outrage over Navalny’s death. Yulia Navalnaya called for unity and action to punish the Russian regime[2]. Biden’s comments reflect the U.S. government’s strong stance against Putin’s actions and its commitment to supporting Ukraine and upholding international law and human rights.
Citations:
[1] https://www.c-span.org/video/
[2] https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-speaks-apparent-death-alexei-navalny-putin-responsible/story?id=107295681
[3] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-speak-noon-navalnys-death-white-house-says-2024-02-16/
[4] https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/02/16/world/aleksei-navalny
[5] https://www.nbcnews.com/video/watch-live-biden-addresses-reported-death-of-alexei-navalny-204351045955
[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia2sy7z1Cqs
[7] https://deadline.com/2024/02/joe-biden-says-vladimir-putin-is-responsible-for-alexei-navalnys-death-blasts-donald-trump-for-encouraging-russia-to-do-whatever-the-hell-they-want-1235828443/
[8] https://abc7.com/alexei-navalny-death-russia-vladimir-putin-news/14432156/