<p>Multilateral prisoner exchange negotiations were underway when Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died last month, reported CNN citing several sources.</p>

<p>The negotiations involved Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, as well as former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton in the early stages. Abramovich has been sanctioned in the West and mostly lives in the United Arab Emirates.</p>

<p>Abramovich was in contact with the US and European officials, and he also maintained contacts in the Kremlin following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.</p>

<p>CNN quoted the sources as claiming that Abramovich even went to Moscow to secure the prisoner exchange deal, and he met Russian leader Vladimir Putin just hours before prison authorities declared Navalny dead.</p>

<h2><strong>‘Informal negotiator’</strong></h2>

<p>According to Maria Pevchikh, a close aide to Navalny, Abramovich had become involved in exploring a deal and had “delivered the proposal to swap Navalny” to the Kremlin. She also claimed that he was acting as “an informal negotiator in communication with American and European officials.”</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Hundreds bid farewell to Alexei Navalny at his funeral</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hundreds-bid-farewell-to-alexei-navalny-at-his-funeral-in-moscow-695769/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The source said Abramovich was left shocked and ‘flabbergasted’ when he heard the news of Navalny’s death. It is to be noted that the Russian authorities have been evading questions about such a prisoner exchange programme.</p>

<p>Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had side-stepped questions about Abramovich’s involvement on February 27, just 11 days after Navalny’s death, saying, “You can ask Abramovich’s representatives. This is not a question to us.”</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwipyvWrmuaEAxUgTGcHHWf3BL4QvOMEKAB6BAgPEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/navalnys-widow-takes-up-his-call-for-big-russian-election-day-protest-697412" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/navalnys-widow-takes-up-his-call-for-big-russian-election-day-protest-697412&amp;ved=2ahUKEwipyvWrmuaEAxUgTGcHHWf3BL4QvOMEKAB6BAgPEAE">Alexei Navalny`s wife Yulia Navalnaya calls for big protest on Russian election day</a></strong></p>

<p>But a US official quoted by CNN said no such formal offer was extended to the Kremlin when Navalny died. “There was no formal offer extended to Russia at the time of Navalny’s death,” the source said.</p>

<h2><strong>Hillary Clinton’s involvement</strong></h2>

<p>CNN reported that Christo Grozev, who has worked with the Navalny team for several years, approached Hillary Clinton in the summer of 2022. Clinton reportedly agreed to the idea of exchanging Navalny ‘for a Russian linked to the security service, the FSB, who had been convicted of murder in Berlin’.</p>

<p>Clinton also passed on the message to US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.</p>

<p>However, it was unclear whether a final framework of the deal was hammered out.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Multilateral prisoner exchange negotiations were underway when Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died last month, reported CNN citing several sources. The negotiations involved Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, as well as former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton in the early stages.

Multilateral prisoner exchange negotiations were underway when Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died last month, reported CNN citing several sources. The negotiations involved Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, as well as former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton in the early stages. Abramovich has been sanctioned in the West and mostly lives in the United Arab Emirates. Abramovich was in contact with the US and European officials, and he also maintained contacts in the Kremlin following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. CNN quoted the sources as claiming that Abramovich even went to Moscow to secure the prisoner exchange deal, and he met Russian leader Vladimir Putin just hours before prison authorities declared Navalny dead. ‘Informal negotiator’ According to Maria Pevchikh, a close aide to Navalny, Abramovich had become involved in exploring a deal and had “delivered the proposal to swap Navalny” to the Kremlin. She also claimed that he was acting as “an informal negotiator in communication with American and European officials.” Watch: Hundreds bid farewell to Alexei Navalny at his funeral × The source said Abramovich was left shocked and ‘flabbergasted’ when he heard the news of Navalny’s death. It is to be noted that the Russian authorities have been evading questions about such a prisoner exchange programme. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had side-stepped questions about Abramovich’s involvement on February 27, just 11 days after Navalny’s death, saying, “You can ask Abramovich’s representatives. This is not a question to us.” Also read: Alexei Navalny`s wife Yulia Navalnaya calls for big protest on Russian election day But a US official quoted by CNN said no such formal offer was extended to the Kremlin when Navalny died. “There was no formal offer extended to Russia at the time of Navalny’s death,” the source said. Hillary Clinton’s involvement CNN reported that Christo Grozev, who has worked with the Navalny team for several years, approached Hillary Clinton in the summer of 2022. Clinton reportedly agreed to the idea of exchanging Navalny ‘for a Russian linked to the security service, the FSB, who had been convicted of murder in Berlin’. Clinton also passed on the message to US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. However, it was unclear whether a final framework of the deal was hammered out. (With inputs from agencies)

Prisoner exchange negotiations were ‘underway’ with Kremlin before Navalny’s death: Report

<p>Lyudmila Navalnaya, the mother of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has filed a lawsuit in the Arctic city of Salekhard, challenging the refusal to release her son's body, Russia's state news agency TASS&nbsp;reported on Wednesday (Feb 21).</p>

<p>Citing court officials, the state media reported that a closed-door hearing is scheduled for March 4.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She had urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to hand over her son's body after his death five days ago in an Arctic jail.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-disagrees-with-brazils-holocaust-remarks-for-israel-blinken-tells-lula-692486">US 'disagrees' with Brazil's Holocaust remarks for Israel, Blinken tells Lula</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Her message to Putin came after she travelled to the remote IK-3 prison where her son died. She has been prevented from seeing his body since Saturday - the day she arrived there.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Appealing to Putin, she said: "I appeal to you, Vladimir Putin, the solution to the issue depends only on you. Let me finally see my son. I demand that Alexei's body be released immediately so that I can bury him in a humane way."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The TASS news agency reported the court had received a complaint on "illegal acts" and that the hearing would take place behind closed doors.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-calls-for-urgent-meet-with-polish-government-to-solve-border-blockade-692479">Zelensky calls for urgent meet with Polish government to solve border blockade</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Navalny's spokesperson said on Monday that Russian investigators will keep Navalny's body for "at least two weeks" to examine the corpse.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Investigators told Alexei's mother and lawyers that they are not handing over the body and in the next 14 days they will conduct a chemical analysis, an investigation," Navalny spokesperson Kira Yarymsh said in a YouTube broadcast.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Navalny's supporters and several leaders from the West have accused Putin of Navalny's death. Meanwhile, Russian authorities have said the cause of Navalny’s death is still unknown.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Russia eyeing Robotyne after Avdiivka, say Ukrainians | Moscow producing more drones than Kyiv</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-eyeing-robotyne-after-avdiivka-say-ukrainians-moscow-producing-more-drones-than-kyiv-692463/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2><strong>Russian opposition figures react to Navalny's death in prison</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Several Russian opposition figures, who are serving time in prison, have expressed condolences for Navalny's death, with his former regional aide saying on Wednesday that she was in "mourning".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Most Russian opposition figures have fled the country in past years, but some have stayed and are serving long prison terms.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Censorship is not allowing me to say everything that I think about the death of Alexei Navalny," Lilia Chanysheva, Navalny's representative in Bashkortostan who is serving seven years in prison, said in a message distributed by her associates.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I send my condolences to his close ones and parents. I am mourning," she said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


Lyudmila Navalnaya, the mother of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has filed a lawsuit in the Arctic city of Salekhard, challenging the refusal to release her son's body, Russia's state news agency TASS reported on Wednesday (Feb 21).

Lyudmila Navalnaya, the mother of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has filed a lawsuit in the Arctic city of Salekhard, challenging the refusal to release her son's body, Russia's state news agency TASS reported on Wednesday (Feb 21). Citing court officials, the state media reported that a closed-door hearing is scheduled for March 4. She had urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to hand over her son's body after his death five days ago in an Arctic jail. Also read: US 'disagrees' with Brazil's Holocaust remarks for Israel, Blinken tells Lula Her message to Putin came after she travelled to the remote IK-3 prison where her son died. She has been prevented from seeing his body since Saturday - the day she arrived there. Appealing to Putin, she said: "I appeal to you, Vladimir Putin, the solution to the issue depends only on you. Let me finally see my son. I demand that Alexei's body be released immediately so that I can bury him in a humane way." The TASS news agency reported the court had received a complaint on "illegal acts" and that the hearing would take place behind closed doors. Also read: Zelensky calls for urgent meet with Polish government to solve border blockade Navalny's spokesperson said on Monday that Russian investigators will keep Navalny's body for "at least two weeks" to examine the corpse. "Investigators told Alexei's mother and lawyers that they are not handing over the body and in the next 14 days they will conduct a chemical analysis, an investigation," Navalny spokesperson Kira Yarymsh said in a YouTube broadcast. Navalny's supporters and several leaders from the West have accused Putin of Navalny's death. Meanwhile, Russian authorities have said the cause of Navalny’s death is still unknown. Watch: Russia eyeing Robotyne after Avdiivka, say Ukrainians | Moscow producing more drones than Kyiv × Russian opposition figures react to Navalny's death in prison Several Russian opposition figures, who are serving time in prison, have expressed condolences for Navalny's death, with his former regional aide saying on Wednesday that she was in "mourning". Most Russian opposition figures have fled the country in past years, but some have stayed and are serving long prison terms. "Censorship is not allowing me to say everything that I think about the death of Alexei Navalny," Lilia Chanysheva, Navalny's representative in Bashkortostan who is serving seven years in prison, said in a message distributed by her associates. "I send my condolences to his close ones and parents. I am mourning," she said. (With inputs from agencies)

Alexei Navalny's mother files lawsuit over refusal to release her son's body

alexei-navalnys-death

Alexei Navalny's Death, News on Alexei Navalny's Death, stories on Alexei Navalny's Death, articles on Alexei Navalny's Death, Alexei Navalny's Death stories at Wion, Alexei Navalny's Death news, Alexei Navalny's Death latest news

alexei navalnys-death

Prisoner exchange negotiations were ‘underway’ with Kremlin before Navalny’s death: Report

Alexei Navalny's mother files lawsuit over refusal to release her son's body