The White House is set to unveil a significant sanctions package against Russia this Friday as a punitive measure for the death of Alexei Navalny, a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and a leading figure in the Russian opposition. National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby announced the forthcoming sanctions, emphasizing the U.S. government’s stance that Putin and his administration bear full responsibility for Navalny’s demise.
Kirby, speaking on Tuesday, did not specify the contents of the sanctions package but highlighted its dual purpose: to hold Russia accountable for Navalny’s death and its continued military aggression in Ukraine. The sanctions aim to address both the two-year conflict in Ukraine and the specific circumstances surrounding Navalny’s death, supplementing existing measures with new ones.
Navalny passed away in prison at the age of 47, an event that President Joe Biden directly attributed to Putin’s actions. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also affirmed Russia’s responsibility for the incident. In the wake of Navalny’s death, his widow, Yulia Navalnaya, has demanded the return of his remains for a dignified burial, amidst allegations of murder, possibly by poisoning. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed these allegations as baseless.
The U.S. has previously imposed sanctions on Russia, targeting financial institutions that support Russia’s military capabilities against Ukraine. These measures were part of an executive order signed by Biden in December.
