Biden meets with Alexei Navalny's family, prepares for additional severe sanctions against Russia
Biden met with Julia and Daria Navalny, who were mourning the loss of the renowned Russian opposition figure. A White House statement shared that during the meeting, Biden expressed admiration for "Alexei Navalny's extraordinary courage and his lifelong dedication to combating corruption and advocating for a free and democratic Russia".
8:48 AM EST, February 23, 2024
"The President expressed admiration for the extraordinary courage of Alexei Navalny in his fight against corruption, and his commitment to a free and democratic Russia," read the statement.
Biden shared photos from the meeting on his profile on platform X, affirming once more, "Alexei's legacy of courage will continue to live on in Julia and Daria and countless people across Russia fighting for democracy and human rights".
Imposition of severe sanctions
Additionally, Biden confirmed earlier forecasts, stating his administration is preparing to impose another round of severe sanctions against Russia. This decision is in response to Navalny's death, the regime’s repression, and its aggression against Ukraine.
The meeting took place in San Francisco, where Navalny's daughter, Daria, is currently studying at Stanford University.
On the same day, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland announced the imposition of "hundreds" of sanctions. These are targeted against individuals involved in Navalny's death and against Putin's war machine.
Navalny, as reported by the Russian prison services, died suddenly on February 16th in a penal colony in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, in the far north. He reportedly fell ill and lost consciousness. Subsequent attempts at resuscitation, as reported by the services, were unsuccessful.
