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Washington — President Joe Biden on Friday blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for the reported demise of Russian opposition chief Alexey Navalny, saying he was “outraged” however “not stunned” by the information.
“Make no mistake, Putin is answerable for Navalny’s demise,” Mr. Biden mentioned from the White Home, including that’s was “extra proof of Putin’s brutality.”
Navalny died in a Russian penal colony, jail authorities mentioned Friday. The jail authority mentioned Navalny “felt unwell” after going for a stroll on Friday and “virtually instantly” misplaced consciousness. Resuscitation measures had been tried, however emergency docs confirmed his demise. He had survived not less than two earlier suspected poisoning makes an attempt.
When requested whether or not Navalny, Russia’s most outstanding opposition chief, was assassinated, Mr. Biden replied, “We do not know precisely what occurred.”
“However there is no such thing as a doubt that the demise of Navalny was a consequence of one thing that Putin and his thugs did,” he mentioned.
Mr. Biden mentioned Navalny was a “highly effective voice for the reality,” who “bravely stood as much as the corruption” of Putin’s authorities.
He accused Putin of getting Navalny poisoned, arrested and held in isolation, and mentioned it did not cease Navalny “from calling out all these lies.” The president famous that Navalny might need lived out his life “safely in exile,” however as a substitute returned to Russia due to his perception in his nation and his individuals, despite the fact that he knew he is perhaps imprisoned or killed.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who’s in Germany for the Munich Safety Convention, mentioned if the reviews of his demise had been confirmed, “this might be an extra signal of Putin’s brutality. No matter story they inform, allow us to be clear: Russia is accountable.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken additionally blamed Putin and mentioned that if the reviews are correct, “[Navalny’s] demise in a Russian jail and the fixation and worry of 1 man solely underscores the weak spot and decay on the coronary heart of the system that Putin has constructed. Russia is answerable for this.”
Mr. Biden additionally invoked Russia’s warfare towards Ukraine, saying Navalny’s demise “reminds us of the stakes of this second,” and he urged Congress to offer extra funding to its ally.
“We have now to offer the funding so Ukraine can preserve defending itself towards Putin’s vicious onslaughts and warfare crimes,” he mentioned. “There was a bipartisan Senate vote that handed overwhelmingly in america Senate to fund Ukraine. Now, as I’ve mentioned earlier than, and I imply this in a literal sense, historical past is watching. Historical past is watching the Home of Representatives.”
The president additionally criticized former President Donald Trump, who not too long ago mentioned he would enable Russia to invade NATO allies that have not paid 2% of their gross home product to the mutual protection pact.
“That is an outrageous factor for a president to say. I can not fathom,” Mr. Biden mentioned. “So long as I am president, America stands by our sacred dedication to our NATO allies, as they’ve stood by their commitments to us repeatedly.”
Extra from CBS Information
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