The Kremlin has dismissed Yulia Navalnaya’s accusation that Russian President Vladimir Putin is behind the death of her husband Alexey Navalny as “absolutely unfounded” and “boorish.”
Navalny, Russia’s highest-profile opposition leader, died in prison on Friday. Days later, Navalnaya released a video message in which she said “Vladimir Putin killed my husband.”
CNN asked Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov to comment on her statement during a call with journalists Tuesday.
“No, we leave this without comment,” he said.
“Of course, these are absolutely unfounded, boorish accusations against the head of the Russian state. But given that Navalnaya became a widow just a few days earlier, I will refrain from commenting,” Peskov said.
CNN also asked Peskov to comment on Navalnaya’s comments that her husband’s body hasn’t been returned to his family because “they are waiting for the traces of Putin’s next ‘Novichok’ to disappear there.”
Peskov responded: “This is nothing more than unfounded accusations.”
“To be honest, I am not familiar with this speech, but if it contained such words, then again this is nothing more than unfounded accusations,” he said.
“Because they are not linked to anything, not confirmed by anything. In this case, only for ethical reasons, I cannot assess these words as they should be,” Peskov added.
Navalnaya later responded.
“I don’t care how the killer’s press secretary comments on my words. Give back Alexey’s body and let him be buried with dignity, don’t stop people from saying goodbye to him,” she posted on X.
“And I strongly ask all journalists who can still ask questions: don’t ask about me, ask about Alexey.”
Remember: Novichok is a poison used on Navalny in August 2020. A CNN and Bellingcat investigation later uncovered that a Russian intelligence service squad planted the poison on his underwear.
Asked separately if Putin had seen Navalnaya’s video address, Peskov said he had not.
The post was updated with Navalnaya’s response.
