‘Mistake’ for Navalny to return to Russia, ex-MI6 officer says
It was “a mistake” for Alexei Navalny to return to Russia and his death will “definitely chill opposition in Russia”, a former British intelligence officer has said.
Christopher Steele, who ran the Russia desk at MI6 from 2006 to 2009, said there were “some indications” that talks were under way for a prisoner swap in Tucker Carlson’s interview with Vladimir Putin.
“Putin obliquely referred to a possible deal, particularly in relation to the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich but I don’t see why that would not have extended to Navalny,” he said.
Asked what threat Mr Navalny would have posed if he were freed, Mr Steele said “a Navalny outside Russia was probably more effective in outlining the Putin regime than he was inside Russia”.
“I think it was a mistake of Navalny, although a very brave one, to go back to Russia and to have been imprisoned,” he said.
Mr Navalny had “impact and resonance” both within Russia and abroad, and the situation inside Russia was so “delicate” that Mr Putin “wanted to stamp out any opposition”.
Looking at the use of assassination as a tool of oppression, he added: “One could argue that it is overkill literally but the fact is it definitely chills opposition in Russia.”
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