Navalny allies: Putin had Kremlin critic killed in prison to foil prisoner swap
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Navalny's allies allege Putin had him killed in jail to sabotage a planned prisoner swap where Navalny would be exchanged for a convicted Russian hitman jailed in Germany.
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Maria Pevchikh, a Navalny ally, said Navalny was set to be freed in a swap involving the hitman and two US nationals. She claims Putin killed Navalny to prevent his release.
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Pevchikh alleges western leaders failed to show the political will to make the swap happen, despite indicating support for helping Navalny.
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Russia previously sought to swap the convicted hitman for a jailed US marine, but the US couldn't deliver the exchange.
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Navalny is the latest of Putin's opponents to die over the course of the Russian leader's 25-year rule.