Putin Claims Pre-Death Prisoner Swap Deal for Navalny, Critics See Attempt to Deflect Blame
• Putin claims he agreed to a prisoner swap involving jailed opposition leader Navalny before Navalny's death • Putin did not specify who Navalny would have been traded for, but mentioned "some people who are behind bars in western countries" • Allies of Navalny believe Putin had him killed in jail to sabotage the prisoner swap • Putin's critics interpreted his comments as an attempt to distance himself from involvement in Navalny's death • Thousands formed long lines at noon on election day to honor Navalny's memory in a symbolic show of dissent against Putin