Putin did not order Navalny's assassination: US intelligence

By Serife Cetin

Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who died in prison in February, was not ordered to be killed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.

The report, which cited US intelligence sources, said an investigation was conducted into his death.

The CIA, National Intelligence Directorate of the US, and the intelligence unit of the Department of State also endorsed the view of US intelligence sources, according to the report.

The cause of Navalny's death remains unknown due to unclarified circumstances from sources.

Following Navalny's death in prison on Feb. 16, many European leaders and US President Joe Biden accused Putin.

"But make no mistake — make no mistake, Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death. Putin is responsible," Biden said on the same day.

Navalny was detained and arrested at the airport in Moscow in January 2021 as he returned to the capital after receiving treatment in Berlin for alleged poisoning.

In August 2023, the Russian court sentenced Navalny to 19 years in prison for establishing an extremist group while he was in prison.

*Writing by Gizem Nisa Cebi from Istanbul​​​​​​​