Navalny Allies Claim Putin Had Him Killed to Thwart Prisoner Swap Involving Convicted Hitman Vadim Krasikov
The mysterious death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has sparked a wave of speculation and conspiracy theories. Allies of Navalny have recently come forward with a shocking claim – they believe that Navalny was killed to prevent a planned prisoner swap involving Vadim Krasikov, a convicted hitman currently serving a life sentence in Germany.
Who is Vadim Krasikov?
Vadim Krasikov, a 58-year-old high-ranking colonel in the Russian secret service FSB, made headlines in 2019 when he was convicted for the murder of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a Georgian-born Chechen dissident living in Germany. Khangoshvili was shot dead in broad daylight in Berlin’s central Tiergarten park by Krasikov, who rode a bicycle through the park. Krasikov had entered Germany using false papers, and the assassination led to a diplomatic incident that resulted in the removal of two Russian diplomats from the German capital.
Sentencing Krasikov in 2021, a Berlin court labeled the killing as a “state-ordered murder,” a claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin vehemently denied. However, Putin indirectly referred to Krasikov in a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, where he hinted at the possibility of a prisoner swap involving a “patriot” serving a life sentence in a “US allied country” in exchange for the release of a US journalist.
What has Germany said about him?
Reports of a potential prisoner swap involving Krasikov first surfaced in the summer of 2022, with rumors suggesting that Russia was willing to release two US citizens in exchange for Krasikov’s freedom. However, the German government has repeatedly denied or dismissed these claims, stating that they would never seriously consider such a request due to the severity of Krasikov’s crime. German officials also emphasized that the US government had no right to demand the release of a convicted murderer from a German jail.
The German government has refrained from officially commenting on the existence or possibility of a prisoner swap. Maria Pevchikh, a close ally of Navalny, accused US and German negotiating partners of dragging their feet in talks with Navalny’s team over his potential release. Pevchikh claimed that plans for the swap were already complete in early 2023 but were met with delays and inaction from the US and German governments. However, government spokesperson Christiane Hoffmann declined to comment on these accusations, stating that they could not confirm or deny the alleged swap plans.
Background of the situation
In 2022, discussions reportedly revolved around swapping Krasikov for two individuals imprisoned in Russia – basketball professional Brittney Griner and former US soldier Paul Whelan. The Wall Street Journal first reported the possibility of a swap involving Krasikov and Navalny in September.
Navalny, a prominent critic of Putin’s regime, gained international attention when he was poisoned with the nerve agent novichok in 2020. He was subsequently treated in a Berlin hospital before returning to Russia in January 2021, where he was immediately arrested upon his arrival at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport.
The claims made by Navalny’s allies regarding his death and the alleged prisoner swap have added another layer of intrigue to an already complex and controversial situation. As investigations into Navalny’s death continue, the world waits for answers and justice for those involved.
