Aides to Aleksei A. Navalny asserted on Monday that the Russian opposition chief had been on the verge of being freed in a prisoner change with the West earlier than he died earlier this month.
Western officers had been in superior talks with the Kremlin on a deal that may have launched Mr. Navalny together with two Individuals in Russian jail, a prime aide to the lifeless opposition chief, Maria Pevchikh, stated in a video launched on the Navalny workforce’s YouTube channel.
As a part of that deal, Ms. Pevchikh stated, Germany would have launched Vadim Krasikov, the person convicted of killing a former Chechen separatist fighter in a Berlin park in 2019. Mr. Putin praised Mr. Krasikov in his interview with the previous Fox Information host Tucker Carlson this month, describing the convicted murderer as having been motivated by “patriotic sentiments.”
Ms. Pevchikh’s assertions a few pending deal couldn’t be independently confirmed. There was no fast remark from any of the events reportedly concerned within the commerce described by Ms. Pevchikh. A Kremlin spokesman didn’t reply to a request for remark.
“Navalny was speculated to be free within the coming days,” Ms. Pevchikh, the chairwoman of Mr. Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Basis, stated within the video. “I acquired affirmation that negotiations had been on the last stage on the night of Feb. 15.”
American officers had acknowledged that German officers had been asking for Mr. Navalny to be launched in any deal that may have freed Mr. Krasikov, although they didn’t point out a deal was shut. A German authorities spokeswoman declined to remark when requested concerning the Navalny workforce’s assertions at a information convention on Monday.
Mr. Navalny himself was not conscious of the small print of the talks however knew his potential launch via a prisoner change was being mentioned, in line with his spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh.
“He understood there have been some talks happening, however he didn’t know any particulars,” Ms. Yarmysh stated in a textual content message.
Mr. Navalny died on Feb. 16 at a penal colony within the Arctic, in line with the Russian authorities. The medical report on his loss of life says he died of pure causes, in line with Navalny aides.
However Ms. Pevchikh asserted in her video that President Vladimir V. Putin had ordered Mr. Navalny’s killing. The rationale, she claimed, was that the West insisted on Mr. Navalny’s launch as a part of any deal to free Mr. Krasikov, whom Western officers describe as a Russian intelligence agent. By killing Mr. Navalny, she stated, Mr. Putin took the opportunity of his launch off the desk, and he deliberate to “provide another person when the time comes” with a view to deliver dwelling Mr. Krasikov.
Ms. Pevchikh stated that the Russian enterprise tycoon Roman Abramovich had acted as a mediator within the West’s talks with Mr. Putin a few potential prisoner change to safe Mr. Navalny’s freedom. A spokeswoman for Mr. Abramovich didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Ms. Pevchikh didn’t establish the 2 Individuals she stated would have been exchanged together with Mr. Navalny. No less than two Individuals behind bars in Russia have been categorized as “wrongfully detained” by the State Division: the Wall Road Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, a company safety government and former Marine.
The Navalny workforce’s new claims got here because the plans for Mr. Navalny’s burial remained unclear. Ms. Yarmysh, his spokeswoman, posted to social media on Monday to ask for assist in lining up a funeral corridor for a service later this week.
“We’re searching for a corridor for a public farewell to Aleksei,” Ms. Yarmysh wrote. “Time: finish of this workweek. In case you have appropriate premises, please contact us.”
Ms. Yarmysh stated on Saturday that Mr. Navalny’s physique had been launched to his mom, Lyudmila Navalnaya, after a dayslong dispute with the authorities over custody of his stays.
Mr. Navalny’s aides say the Kremlin has sought to forestall his funeral from turning right into a public occasion that would appeal to hundreds of mourners. Mr. Putin’s spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, denied that the Kremlin was concerned.
“That is completely not our problem and never our prerogative,” Mr. Peskov informed reporters on Monday. “The pinnacle of state doesn’t regulate these points in any approach.”
Julian E. Barnes contributed reporting from Washington and Erika Solomon from Berlin.
