Russian dictator Vladimir Putin discussed the exchange of opposition leader Alexei Navalny just hours before his death.
What is known about Putin's plans to exchange Navalny
Two interlocutors of the Russian publication Agentsvo. Novosti claims that Putin discussed the exchange during a personal meeting with billionaire Roman Abramovich on the day of the oppositionist's death in the colony of Harp. According to one of the sources, Putin verbally agreed to the agreement.
According to a person familiar with the businessman, this meeting between Putin and Abramovich took place on the morning of February 16, about four hours before the first news of Navalny's death.
Journalist Christo Grozev, familiar with the exchange plans, also heard that Putin allegedly agreed to it.
From what we knew in the last days before the murder, we had the impression that he agreed (even to the surprise of the negotiators from the Russian side), Grozev said.
According to Grozev, it was a fake agreement.
I think that this was either a cover for assassination plans, or a strategic move to bring the negotiations almost to the end, thinking that since Germany agreed in principle to give Vadim Krasikov, then in the absence of Navalny, they would agree to exchange him for another, not so important for Putin a prisoner, he said.
How to interpret Putin's consent
One of the interlocutors interprets Putin's consent, if it was, in a similar way. According to him, after learning that the West was ready to hand over Krasikov to Russia, Putin cold-bloodedly ordered to kill Navalny.
An acquaintance of Abramovich is cautious in his interpretation and suggests waiting for the results of the investigation into Navalny's death.
All sources agree that Navalny was the main, but not the only, object of exchange. The Russian side was ready to extradite Navalny, as well as The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Hershkovich and retired US marine Paul Whelan, to Germany and the US, respectively.
According to two interlocutors, in response, Western countries were ready to extradite Vadim Krasikov, a murderer and officer of the Russian special services sentenced to life in Germany, and some of the Russians convicted in the United States.
Negotiations on the exchange have been going on since at least last spring.
