US intelligence officials believe Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is unlikely to have ordered the killing of jailed opposition politician Alexei Navalny, a US official familiar with the assessment said.
While U.S. officials believe Putin is ultimately responsible for Navalny’s death, intelligence agencies have not found conclusive evidence that Putin directly ordered Navalny’s death, the official said.
The official spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
US President Joe Biden said shortly after Navalny’s death that the ultimate responsibility rested with Putin, however, Biden did not accuse Putin that the Russian dictator had directly ordered the killing of Navalny.
At the time, Biden admitted that the United States did not know what exactly happened to Navalny, but stated that there was “no doubt” that his death was “a consequence of something that Putin and his goons did.”
Russian authorities say Navalny died of natural causes. The oppositionist’s associates believe that he has been killed and that Putin is responsible for his death.
Navalny died in prison in Russia on February 16.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Photo: EPA/ALEXANDER KAZAKOV
