Biden Meets with Navalny’s Family, Announces Sanctions Against Putin
President Joe Biden met with the wife and daughter of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny on Thursday, expressing his admiration for Navalny’s courage and legacy of fighting against corruption and for a free and democratic Russia. The meeting took place in California, where Biden is currently traveling for political fundraisers. Dasha Navalnaya, Navalny’s daughter, is a student at Stanford University.
During a press conference after the meeting, Biden announced that he would be imposing sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin himself, holding him responsible for Navalny’s death. “We’re gonna be announcing sanctions against Putin, who is responsible for his death, tomorrow,” Biden stated. He also emphasized that Navalny’s wife would “continue to fight” and assured that the administration would not let up in their efforts.
The meeting with Navalny’s family comes ahead of an expected new round of US sanctions on Russia, partially in response to Navalny’s death. Biden affirmed that his administration will announce major new sanctions against Russia, focusing on Navalny’s death, Russia’s repression and aggression, and its illegal war in Ukraine. A Treasury official revealed that the Biden administration will impose sanctions on over 500 targets on Friday.
Navalny’s death, which was announced by the Russian prison service last Friday, caused international outrage and drew condemnation towards Putin. Biden placed the blame directly on Putin, stating, “The fact of the matter is: Putin is responsible, whether he ordered it or he is responsible for the circumstances he put that man in. And it just cannot be tolerated.”
Biden also criticized his likely 2024 rival, former President Donald Trump, for his response to Navalny’s death. Trump compared his own legal troubles to what Navalny faced but did not mention Putin in his message. Biden expressed disbelief at Trump’s comments and questioned their validity.
During a fundraising event, Biden referred to Putin as a “crazy SOB,” prompting a strong reaction from the Kremlin. They condemned Biden’s comments as a “huge disgrace” for the United States.
Navalny, Russia’s highest-profile opposition leader, had spent years openly criticizing Putin, often risking his personal safety. In 2020, he was poisoned with Novichok, a Soviet-era nerve agent, and spent months recovering in Germany before returning to Russia in 2021. Upon his arrival, he was immediately arrested.
Navalny was serving a 19-year prison sentence after being found guilty of various charges, including creating an extremist community and financing extremist activists. He had already been serving sentences for fraud and other crimes that he denied. Navalny spent his final weeks in the IK-3 penal colony in Kharp, known as “Polar Wolf,” where he described the conditions as freezing.
According to the Russian prison service, Navalny fell ill and lost consciousness shortly after returning from a walk in the penal colony. A medical report attributed his death to natural causes, although Navalny’s spokesperson claimed otherwise.
The meeting between President Biden and Navalny’s family sends a strong message of support to those fighting for freedom, democracy, and human rights in Russia. The upcoming sanctions against Putin and Russia demonstrate the Biden administration’s commitment to holding accountable those responsible for Navalny’s death and addressing Russia’s aggressive actions. As the world watches, it remains to be seen how these developments will shape the future of US-Russia relations and the ongoing struggle for democracy in Russia.
