Putin’s Opposition Navalny Was Close To Release On Prisoner Swap Deal Before Death

Late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was set to be freed in a prisoner swap deal before his death, according to Maria Pevchikh, his ally.

In a post published on Navalny’s YouTube page, Pevchikh said he was set to be exchanged with Vadim Krasikov, a Russian hitman who is in prison serving a life sentence for a murder in Germany.

Pevchikh also said two US nationals who are currently held in Russia were part of the swap deal before Navalny passed on.

She stated that negotiations were at the final stage on February 15 before Navalny’s death on February 16.

Navalny was being held in a Siberian prison and was serving a 19-year sentence over charges that were suspected to be politically motivated.

According to prison officials, Navalny, 47, fell ill after a “walk” and died.

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The US government blames Putin for Navalny’s death and promised sanctions, but the Kremlin has insisted that it had no hand in the opposition leader’s death.

Pevchikh, who is also the chairwoman of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), further disclosed that a prisoner swap deal had been underway for two years.

She did not mention the two US citizens that were supposed to be part of the swap deal, but it will be recalled that President Putin told US host Tucker Carlson that American journalist Evan Gershkovich, who has been held in Russia on espionage charges, could be released in exchange for a Russian who is in prison “due to patriotic sentiments, eliminated a bandit in one of the European capitals… during the events in the Caucasus.”

Many believe Putin was referring to Vadim Krasikov, a Russian national who was found guilty of murdering Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a former Chechen rebel commander. 

The Kremlin has yet to react to Pevchikh’s claims.