Navalny Ally Alleges Putin Stopped Prisoner Swap Before Death

A key ally of Alexei Navalny has made shocking allegations, suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin may have played a role in Navalny’s death to sabotage a potential prisoner swap deal. Maria Pevchikh, the chair of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, revealed that negotiations for the swap were at an advanced stage just a day before Navalny’s death on February 16.

According to Pevchikh, the proposed swap would have seen Navalny, along with two unnamed U.S. citizens, released in exchange for Vadim Krasikov, a convicted Russian assassin imprisoned in Germany. She claimed that Putin’s decision to intervene was triggered by the escalating conflict in Ukraine, which led him to urgently remove Navalny from the equation.

Pevchikh went further, implicating Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich in the negotiations. She alleged that Abramovich was actively involved in the process and was the one who presented the proposal to Putin. This revelation adds a layer of complexity to the situation, suggesting high-level involvement in the decision-making process.

The timing of Navalny’s death, just as the prisoner swap deal was nearing completion, has raised suspicions. Pevchikh asserted that Putin could not tolerate the idea of Navalny being released, leading to his alleged interference to prevent the swap from taking place. This narrative paints a picture of a desperate and ruthless leader willing to go to extreme lengths to maintain control.

Despite these bold claims, Pevchikh did not provide concrete evidence to support her allegations. Additionally, Abramovich has yet to comment on his alleged involvement in the negotiations. The lack of corroborating evidence leaves room for skepticism, and further investigation is needed to determine the veracity of these claims.

The identities of the two American citizens involved in the negotiations were not disclosed. However, it is known that U.S. officials have been working to secure the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, both of whom are held in Russia on espionage charges that the U.S. considers unfounded.

The backdrop of this story is the 2019 assassination of Chechen dissident Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Berlin by Krasikov. This brazen act on foreign soil sparked a major diplomatic crisis, with Germany expelling two Russian diplomats in response. Krasikov was subsequently convicted by a German court, which described the murder as “state-ordered,” and sentenced to life in prison.

Putin had previously hinted at seeking Krasikov’s release in exchange for Gershkovich, referring to him as a “patriot” imprisoned in a “U.S.-allied country” for eliminating a criminal. Putin also accused Khangoshvili of killing Russian soldiers, further complicating the narrative surrounding Krasikov’s imprisonment and potential release.