Putin claims he agreed prisoner swap for Navalny before he died

VLADIMIR Putin yesterday insisted he was not behind the death of rival Alexei Navalny.

- Mark Reynolds

The Russian leader, who predictably won his country's presidential election at the weekend, claimed that he had agreed to exchange Mr Navalny in a prisoner swap.

It was being discussed shortly before the 47-year-old's death in a remote Russian jail last month.

Mentioning his foe by name for the first time, he told reporters: "As for Mr Navalny, yes, he passed away. It is always a sad event.

"Well, we have had other cases where people in prison have passed away. Hasn't that happened in the United States? It has happened many times.

Surprise

"Speaking of which, here. Well, I'll tell you, this is going to come as a surprise.

"A few days before Mr Navalny passed away, some colleagues told me, not members of my administration...that there was an idea to exchange Mr Navalny for some people who are incarcerated in Western countries.

"You can believe me, you may not.