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According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, US Intelligence Agencies have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin may not have planned for Alexei Navalny to have died when he did.
This recent assessment by US agencies suggests that while Putin likely did not directly order Navalny’s demise in February, he is not entirely absolved of responsibility. This conclusion has received concurrence from several intelligence bodies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the State Department’s intelligence unit.
The assessment by the US was reportedly drawn from a comprehensive analysis of classified and public data, as well as considerations of the political implications surrounding the timing of Navalny’s death amidst Putin’s reelection campaign. The sources, however, did not provide details on the exact cause of Navalny’s death, although it was attributed to “sudden death syndrome,” a term generally associated with various fatal cardiac conditions.
In reaction to the US intelligence findings, Leonid Volkov, a close associate of Navalny, expressed skepticism, stating, “The idea of Putin being not informed and not approving killing Navalny is ridiculous.”
Navalny, known for his outspoken opposition to corruption and Putin’s administration, died unexpectedly at 47 in a remote Arctic penal colony. His sudden death sent shockwaves globally, with immediate suspicion cast towards the Russian leader. Reports from the Russian Federal Prison Service indicated that Navalny felt unwell following a walk, lost consciousness, and, despite efforts by medical teams, could not be revived.
Since 2021, Navalny had been incarcerated, following his return to Russia after recovering from a poisoning incident, which he attributed to Putin—a claim the Russian president has denied.
