Putin says he was ready for Alexei Navalny prisoner swap before his death

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who won Sunday’s presidential election, said he was ready to swap prisoners of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny for people jailed in Western countries while interacting with reporters in Moscow.

Putin’s statement came after an NBC News reporter asked about democratic authorities under Navalny’s illness and other political scandals.

Putin, who rarely speaks Navalny’s name, said in response that “several days before Mr. Navalny disappeared, some of my colleagues told me that there is an idea to exchange Mr. Navalny for some prisoners in Western countries. “

“Believe it or not, the person talking to me barely finished his sentence when I said, ‘I agree.’ But, unfortunately, what happened happened,” Putin added, speaking as he declared victory in the country’s election.

According to Navalny’s supporters, the only thing that prevented Navalny’s release along with two American prisoners was the fact that he was poisoned. Putin may have agreed to his proposal, but he set an additional condition to permanently ban Navalny from returning to Russia.

Navalny’s wife, Yulia Navalnaya, now in Berlin, has refused to visit her deceased husband in Russia, instead living outside the country. Navalny, who is a famous anti-graft activist, was prosecuted and imprisoned before his tragic death and many people are linking his death to the Kremlin.

After Navalny’s murder, Biden imposed some 500 sanctions against Russia, calling out the Putin administration for its aggression and repression from within. The sanctions are designed to target individuals linked to the prosecution of Navalny and Russia’s military operations in Ukraine, putting more pressure on Putin’s government.