US President Joe Biden has stated he’s “contemplating” steps to punish Moscow after he blamed Vladimir Putin and his “thugs” for the demise of Russian opposition chief Alexei Navalny.
Mr Biden stated he was “outraged” however “not surprised” by the demise of the distinguished Putin critic as he joined different world leaders in saying the Kremlin ought to be held accountable.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described Mr Navalny because the “fiercest advocate for Russian democracy”, whereas Canadian chief Justin Trudeau stated his passing is a reminder of “exactly what a monster Putin is”.
Mr Navalny had been serving a 19-year sentence on extremism expenses in Russia’s Polar Wolf penal colony north of the Arctic Circle.
Russian jail authorities stated he died after feeling unwell following a stroll on Friday.
Follow newest:
Mourners arrested after Navalny’s demise
‘Putin is accountable’
Speaking on the White House after the studies emerged, Mr Biden paid tribute to a person he stated “bravely” stood as much as the Russian president’s “corruption” and “violence”.
Mr Biden continued: “Russian authorities are going to inform their very own story.
“But make no mistake. Make no mistake. Putin is answerable for Navalny’s demise.”
He added: “We don’t know exactly what happened, but there is no doubt that the death of Nalvany was a consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did.”
Joe Biden speaks after it was reported Alexei Navalny had died. Pic: Reuters
The White House remains to be in search of extra details about Mr Navalny’s demise, however the improvement has put an additional chill into already frosty relations between Washington DC and Moscow.
Mr Biden had warned Mr Putin after they met in Geneva in June 2021 that Mr Navalny’s demise would result in devastating penalties for the Kremlin.
Asked what penalties Mr Putin will face, Mr Biden stated on the White House on Friday: “That was three years ago, in the meantime they have faced a hell of a lot of consequences.”
He referenced sanctions Moscow has confronted because it invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and the a whole lot of 1000’s of Russian troopers who’ve been killed within the battle.
Read extra:
How Navalny nonetheless posed a risk to Putin from jail
The extraordinary lifetime of Navalny
Alexei Navalny makes a coronary heart gesture to his spouse throughout a court docket listening to in Moscow in 2021. Pic: AP
Mr Biden stated he’s “contemplating what else could be done”, however added that when he issued the warning in 2021 there have been no sanctions already in place.
The US president additionally urged Republican hardliners in Congress to assist further funding to pay for extra weaponry for Ukraine’s army practically two years after the nation was invaded by Russian forces.
He stated: “History’s watching the House of Representatives. The failure to support Ukraine at this critical moment will never be forgotten.”
The Russian president himself has not commented on Mr Navalny’s demise, however Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated Mr Putin had been made conscious of the event.
Mr Peskov, who stated he couldn’t reveal any particulars as to how Mr Navanly died, added that the response of Western leaders has been “unacceptable” and “absolutely rabid”.
Mr Putin chairs a gathering in Chelyabinsk on the day Mr Navalny’s demise was reported. Pic: Reuters
Sunak, Macron and Scholz reply to ‘enormous tragedy’
Among these world leaders was Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who stated the jailed dissident’s demise was “terrible news”.
“My thoughts are with his wife and the people of Russia, for whom this is a huge tragedy,” Mr Sunak stated.
“As the fiercest advocate for Russian democracy, Alexei Navalny demonstrated incredible courage throughout his life,” he added.
Lord Cameron, the UK’s international secretary, stated that Mr Navanly had “fought bravely against corruption” all through his life.
He continued: “Putin’s Russia fabricated charges against him, poisoned him, sent him to an Arctic penal colony and now he has tragically died.
“Putin ought to be accountable for what has occurred – nobody ought to doubt the dreadful nature of his regime.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated it was “obvious” Mr Putin was accountable, including that the Russian chief would not care who dies as long as his place is safe.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed “anger and indignation” over Mr Navalny’s demise, including that Russia is a spot the place “free spirits are put in the gulag and sentenced to death”.
He stated the remedy of Mr Navalny exhibits the “weakness of the Kremlin and their fear of all opponents”.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated Mr Navalny’s demise makes clear “what kind of regime this is” and that he had “probably now paid for (his) courage with his life”.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
The life and demise of Alexei Navalny
EU says it can ‘spare no efforts’ to carry Kremlin to account
The European Union demanded Moscow instantly launch all political prisoners after the demise of Mr Navalny.
The Russian opposition chief was “slowly murdered” by Mr Putin, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and vice chairman Josep Borrell stated in a joint assertion.
“We will spare no efforts to hold the Russian political leadership and authorities to account,” they added.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau advised the nation’s CBC Radio that Mr Navalny was a “strong fighter for democracy, for freedoms for the Russian people”.
He added: “It really shows the extent to which Putin… will crack down on anyone who is fighting for freedom for the Russian people… It is a tragedy and it’s something that has the entire world being reminded of exactly what a monster Putin is.”
Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts
Mr Navalny’s spouse Yulia was on the Munich Security Conference in Germany when studies of her husband’s demise emerged.
She stated: “I don’t know whether to believe or not this terrible news that we only receive from Russian government sources… But if this is true, I want Putin and everyone around him to know that they will be held accountable for everything they did to our country, to my family. And this day will come very soon.”
Yulia Navalnaya, spouse of late Russian opposition chief Alexei Navalny, on the Munich Security Conference. Pic: Reuters
Flowers had been laid in Moscow for Alexei Navalny, the place some protesters had been arrested. Pic: AP
Meanwhile, flowers have been laid at vigils for Mr Navalny in Russia and throughout Europe.
People gathered on the Wall of Sorrow, in Moscow, a memorial to victims of political repression underneath Joseph Stalin, whereas others laid flowers at a memorial for victims of political repression in St Petersburg.
Protesters have additionally gathered exterior the Russian Embassy in central London.
Content Source: information.sky.com