Ukrainian President says russian opposition leader was killed by putin

Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was imprisoned in a russian penal colony, was killed by kremlin leader vladimir putin to protect his position before the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for March 17, 2024.

This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

"It has just become known that Alexei Navalny died in a russian prison, obviously, he was murdered by putin, like thousands of those tortured and martyred because of this one man. He doesn't care who dies, as long as he maintains his position", - said Zelenskyy.

He clarified that putin himself is the embodiment of war, which can only be stopped by joint efforts.

"That is why he should not be allowed to keep anything. putin must go down in defeat, he must lose everything and be held accountable for what he has done", - emphasized the President of Ukraine.

On the afternoon of February 16, the Federal Penitentiary Service of russia announced the death of Alexei Navalny in penal colony No. 3. Navalny was serving his sentence there after returning to russia in January 2021. In February 2021, the court sentenced Navalny to 2.5 years in prison. His sentence was due to expire this summer.