Aleksei Navalny’s associates attribute his death to the imminent release of the oppositionist.
Deceased Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny could be replaced. Several Western media outlets, citing their sources, confirmed information about ongoing negotiations on the exchange of politicians.
Who should I replace it with?
“He should literally be traded these days. An offer was made to Putin,” said the politician’s press secretary Kira Yarmysh.
Navalny’s ally Maria Pevchikh said in a YouTube video that a deal was negotiated through the mediation of Roman Abramovich to exchange Navalny and two US citizens for FSB officer Vadim Krasikov.
“I received confirmation that negotiations are underway and in the final stages on the evening of February 15,” Pevchikh said.
Official confirmation of the negotiations never appeared. German government officials declined to comment. The Russian president’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, told the FT he was not aware of any such agreements.
There is no similar history
Such an exchange is unprecedented for post-Soviet Russia; there have been no cases of the release of convicted Russian oppositionists as part of an international exchange since 1986.
Negotiations on the exchange of Navalny for Krasikov were confirmed by anonymous sources of several foreign publications, including Reuters, CNN, and the Financial Times.
According to the Financial Times, during the discussions Russia considered the option of releasing journalist Evan Gershkovich, Navalny and American veteran Paul Whelan in exchange for Krasikov. But after Navalny’s death, interest in the deal waned.
In February, Putin made it clear, in an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson, that he was ready to exchange Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich for FSB officer Vadim Krasikov, who is serving a life sentence for killing in Berlin.
According to the New York Times, Germany has demanded that Alexei Navalny be included in any deal involving the release of Vadim Krasikov.
Reuters reports that the US and Germany have discussed a potential prisoner swap with Russia, but talks are at an early stage.
A source in the Russian agency said that initially the plan was provided for the exchange of Gershkovich only. “The only person Putin was willing to trade him for was Krasikov. But the Germans were definitely against it because it was a problem for the US. When Navalny was included in the plan, the Germans finally agreed,” said of the source.
Navalny’s press secretary, Kira Yarmysh, told the NYT that Navalny did not know the details of the negotiations, but knew that a possible exchange was being discussed.
Berlin killer
On August 23, 2019, Vadim Krasikov shot and killed former Chechen militant Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Berlin. According to media reports, Krasikov is associated with the elite special forces unit of the Russian FSB – Vympel.
Krasikov may have been connected to the special services since at least 2007 – then he and his two accomplices shot the head of the businessmen’s society and deputy of the city of Kostomuksha in Karelia, Yuri Kozlov. A criminal case was opened almost immediately, but, despite the testimony of witnesses, no one was brought to justice, and the investigation stalled.
Without directly mentioning Krasikov’s last name, Putin called him in an interview with Tucker a “patriot” who “liquidated a bandit” who had committed war crimes against Russian military personnel.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.