Biden adviser warns "there will be consequences" for Russia if Navalny dies
3 hours ago - World
Biden adviser warns "there will be consequences" for Russia if Navalny dies
Orion Rummler
The Biden administration warned the Russian government "that there will be consequences" if jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny dies, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN on Sunday.
The big picture: Sullivan also defended President Biden for not mentioning Navalny in a Thursday speech about Russia or in a Tuesday call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying the White House aims to deal with the issue "privately and through diplomatic channels."
Biden denounced Navalny's arrest as "totally, totally unfair" and "totally inappropriate" on Saturday, according to a pool report.
Where it stands: Navalny Putin's fiercest and most organized domestic political critic, who previously attempted a run for president in 2018 faces possible kidney failure as he continues his multi-week hunger strike.
Prison authorities said they offered Navalny treatment, but he refused, arguing he should be seen by a doctor of his choice. That request was denied.
"People usually avoid the word 'dying'. But now Alexey is dying. In his condition, it is a matter of days," tweeted the opposition leader's press secretary Kira Yarmysh on Saturday.
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https://www.axios.com/russia-alexei-navalny-biden-jake-sullivan-ab2930dd-cf0a-4f31-9980-da014dda6349.html