"Navalny's Potential Release in Prisoner Swap Deal with Putin Before His Death"

Five sources claim that a deal to free Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was in the works before his death, alleging that President Vladimir Putin had him killed to thwart an imminent prisoner swap that would have freed him and two Americans. Navalny's team says they were unable to find a venue in Russia willing to hold his funeral, and his widow's return to Russia for the funeral is uncertain. Russian authorities have been cracking down on dissent following Navalny's death, with hundreds detained and a Moscow newspaper's edition confiscated. A close Navalny ally has encouraged Russians to protest the upcoming presidential election in response to Navalny's death.