US Intel: Putin Likely Not Responsible for Navalny's Death, Despite Years of Targeting

According to a Wall Street Journal report, US intelligence agencies have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin likely did not order the killing of opposition politician Alexei Navalny at an Arctic prison camp in February 2024. The assessment, which is broadly accepted within the intelligence community, found that the timing of Navalny's death may not have been as intended by Putin.

The CIA, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the State Department's intelligence unit hold the view that while the circumstances surrounding Navalny's death were suspicious, Putin was likely not directly responsible. "The agencies believe the timing of Navalny's death, which occurred as his staffers claimed he was on the brink of being freed, was not specifically intended by Putin," the report states.

However, the US has not absolved Putin of overall responsibility for Navalny's passing on the global stage. Navalny had been targeted by Russian authorities for years, jailed on politically motivated charges, and poisoned with a nerve agent in 2020, an attack the Kremlin has denied involvement in. The US assessment was based on a range of information, including classified intelligence and an analysis of public facts.

Why this matters: The death of Alexei Navalny, a prominent Kremlin critic, has strained relations between Russia and the West. While the US intelligence findings suggest Putin may not have directly ordered Navalny's killing, the Russian leader is still seen as ultimately responsible by the US and other leaders due to the Kremlin's long history of targeting the opposition figure.

Navalny's allies have accused Putin of having him murdered and said they will provide proof, but the Kremlin has denied any state involvement in his passing. Some European intelligence agencies and analysts in Poland remain skeptical of suggestions that Putin was not involved, given the tightly controlled nature of the prison colony where Navalny was held. "Navalny was considered a high-value political prisoner, and his allies claim he was killed after Putin became aware of potential prisoner swap discussions with the US," according to the Wall Street Journal report.

Key Takeaways

• US intel agencies believe Putin did not directly order Navalny's 2024 prison death.
• Agencies say timing of Navalny's death may not have been as intended by Putin.
• US still holds Putin responsible due to Kremlin's history of targeting Navalny.
• Navalny's allies claim he was killed after Putin learned of potential US prisoner swap.
• Some European agencies remain skeptical of claims Putin was not involved in death.