Alexei Navalny has been imprisoned since January 2021.
The White House has warned of expanded sanctions on Russia following the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a Siberian prisoner of war camp. independent explain According to reports, the Biden administration will announce a new sanctions package against Moscow on Friday. A day earlier, U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters he was considering new sanctions following Navalny’s death. On Friday, Biden blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for the death of the Russian opposition leader.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby declined to give details about the new sanctions but blamed Putin.
“Whatever story the Russian government decides to tell the world, it is clear that President Putin and his administration are responsible for Mr. Navalny’s death. In response, and at the direction of President Biden, we will make a major announcement this Friday sanctions package,” he told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday.
The United States has imposed significant trade restrictions on Russia since the war in Ukraine began nearly two years ago.
CNBC Mr Kirby was further quoted as saying the new sanctions would be based on continuing to strangle the Russian economy.
Navalny died after losing consciousness during a walk inside the prison, according to Siberian prison authorities. The Kremlin announced an investigation into his death and lashed out at the West.
Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of the Russian opposition leader, holds Putin responsible for her husband’s death, a charge the Kremlin denies. She also accused the Kremlin of poisoning Navalny, adding that they preserved his body to allow traces of the poison to dissipate.
The same accusations surfaced in 2020, resulting in Navalny being hospitalized in Germany. After being discharged from the hospital, Navalny and his wife returned to Russia, but were arrested at Moscow airport.
