Alexei Navalny’s murder. Statement by Free Russia Foundation team
Free Russia FoundationFeb 17
Former Colleague Claims Navalny Was Nearly Freed in Prisoner Swap
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The Facts
Russian investigative journalist and anti-corruption activist Maria Pevchikh has alleged on the Youtube channel of former colleague Alexei Navalny that the late Russian politician was going to be freed in the near future via a prisoner swap that was nearly completed before his death on Feb. 16.
On Feb. 17, Kira Yarmysh, a spokesperson for Navalny, confirmed that the Putin critic and former opposition leader had died at 2:17 p.m. (local time) the day prior. Navalny's team alleged that he had been murdered.
The Spin
Anti-Russia narrative
It's certain that Navalny was brutally murdered, having experienced years of prison and intricate torture. Navalny stood for everything that Russia and Putin have sought to oppress, and the democratic world cannot let this crime go unpunished. Russia's people will prevail over the tyranny it currently finds itself under, and Navalny will be immortalized as a martyr who inspired a generation to hope.
Pro-Russia narrative
It's no coincidence that the West has pointed fingers at the Kremlin — and Putin personally — over Navalny's tragic natural death, as its propaganda machine is now at full tilt to try to divert focus from defeats in Ukraine and the genocide in Gaza. If Western countries did live up to what they preached, Julian Assange, for example, wouldn't be subject to torture for exposing the US' ruthless killings.
Nerd narrative
There is a 10% chance that a post-Putin Russia will substantially democratize within five years, according to the Metaculus prediction community.