Thursday saw Vladimir Putin wearing an unusually festive smile as he commended factory workers and bantered with state reporters at an industrial plant in Chelyabinsk, a city in the Ural region.
His demeanor exuded confidence, a clear indication of his conviction that he could evade consequences for the demise of his most prominent critic in prison, while also outmaneuvering Ukraine on the battlefield.
The circumstances surrounding Alexei Navalny’s death at a remote penitentiary above the Arctic Circle may remain shrouded in mystery indefinitely. As of Sunday, Navalny's family has yet to be granted access to his body.
Navalny endured years of severe mistreatment within the Russian prison system, notorious for its harsh conditions. The opposition leader was subjected to particularly brutal treatment. Regardless of the specifics surrounding his demise, the years of abuse lend credence to the widespread belief among his supporters that the Kremlin bears responsibility.
"Putin killed Alexei Navalny," declared Georgy Alburov, an ally of Navalny and a researcher for his Anti-Corruption Foundation. "The details of how he did it will undoubtedly come to light."
Leaders in the Western world echoed Alburov's sentiment, squarely placing blame for Navalny’s death on Putin. "Make no mistake: Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death. Putin is responsible," emphasized US President Joe Biden.
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