The death of Russian dissident Alexey Navalny was not ordered directly by President Vladimir Putin. Or at least this is the conclusion reached by American intelligence, as revealed by the Wall Street Journal. Although the circumstances surrounding the death of the Russian opposition leader remain highly suspicious, the WSJ cites “people familiar with the matter” according to whom several US intelligence agencies, including the CIA, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the State Department’s intelligence unit agree that Navalny’s death was not specifically orchestrated by Putin.
«European agencies remain skeptical»
“The assessment does not dispute Putin’s responsibilities, but rather considers that he probably did not order it at that time,” the newspaper specifies. And it underlines how several European intelligence agencies, despite these US conclusions, remain profoundly skeptical about the fact that the Russian president, Navalny’s arch-enemy, could be extraneous to the affair. Furthermore, the allies of the deceased dissident continue to say they are certain that the Kremlin is truly responsible. When pressed on the version that Putin was not the direct instigator, Leonid Volkov – Navalny’s former right-hand man – cut it short, branding it a “ridiculous” thesis.
