"Putin Acknowledges Support for Navalny Prisoner Swap Before Death"

Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny as an "unfortunate incident" and claimed he was prepared to release Navalny in a prisoner exchange with the West. Putin's comments, made after Russia's presidential election, marked a rare public mention of Navalny's name by the Russian leader. Navalny, who had survived a poisoning attempt in 2020, died in a penal colony in the Arctic last month. Putin's remarks come amid assertions from Navalny's aides and Western officials about discussions on a potential prisoner swap involving Navalny and two Americans imprisoned in Russia.