Navalny Ally Alleges Potential Prisoner Swap Deal Before his Death

Maria Pevchikh, an ally of Alexei Navalny, claimed that the Russian opposition leader was on the verge of being released in a prisoner exchange before his death. Pevchikh alleged that Putin had Navalny killed to prevent his release. Talks for Navalny's exchange, involving two unnamed U.S. nationals, were reportedly in their final stages. Navalny's allies had been working on a plan for his release in exchange for "Russian spies in exchange for political prisoners", but claimed that Western governments had failed to show the necessary political will.