Russian oligarch's involvement in prisoner exchange for Navalny revealed

A prisoner exchange involving multiple countries, which could have potentially led to the release of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, was in the works before his death last month. Sources reveal that the process included the direct participation of Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.

The initiative to secure Navalny's release, which had been ongoing for two years with starts and stops, gained momentum after Abramovich's visit to Moscow in recent months, according to two sources.

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton showed support for Navalny's release early on, according to multiple sources.

Abramovich, who is under sanctions in the West and resides mostly in the United Arab Emirates, met with a US official to discuss a potential exchange involving up to seven individuals, as revealed by a source familiar with the situation. Despite his ties to the Kremlin following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Abramovich played a key role in initial negotiations to resolve the conflict.

One insider familiar with Abramovich’s activities mentioned that he had traveled to Moscow for a meeting with officials at the Kremlin. It has not been independently verified by CNN when Abramovich made this trip, despite reports from Russian media claiming he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin just hours before the prison authorities announced Navalny's death at a Siberian penal colony on February 16.

On the evening of February 15, a source close to Navalny’s team informed CNN that they had received information that a message had been conveyed to Putin. However, they were unsure about the exact details of this communication. Maria Pevchikh, a key aide to Navalny, revealed shortly after his passing that Abramovich had entered discussions about a potential agreement and had presented a proposal to exchange Navalny with the Kremlin. She mentioned his role as an “informal mediator engaging with American and European officials.”

The source familiar with Abramovich’s involvement said he was “flabbergasted” to hear that Navalny had died even as he pursued the exchange.

Navalny died aged 47 in an Arctic prison on February 16, sparking condemnation from world leaders and accusations from his aides that he had been murdered.

Navalny died aged 47 in an Arctic prison on February 16, sparking condemnation from world leaders and accusations from his aides that he had been murdered.

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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov avoided questions about Abramovich's involvement 11 days after Navalny's death. When asked about Abramovich discussing a prisoner swap with Putin, Peskov redirected the question to Abramovich's representatives, stating it was not for the Kremlin to answer.

According to a Western diplomat speaking to CNN, the likelihood of a swap had reached a seven or eight out of ten by the time Navalny passed away in the IK-3 prison colony.

The proposal was still in the early stages, as per sources familiar with the process. A deal did not seem to be happening anytime soon.

According to him, the offer can only be made once it has been informally accepted. This is the usual process in negotiations like this.

A US official concurred, telling CNN: “There was no formal offer extended to Russia at the time of Navalny’s death.”

An Aspen meeting

Back in the summer of 2022, at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado, Hillary Clinton had a meeting with Christo Grozev, who has been working with the Navalny team for several years.

Someone familiar with the meeting shared that Clinton expressed her admiration for Grozev's work with Navalny, particularly in revealing the identities of the FSB team responsible for poisoning Navalny. She also mentioned watching the documentary that Grozev had a part in creating about Navalny. This documentary, which received an Academy Award, was based on an investigation by CNN and the independent investigative group Bellingcat into Navalny's poisoning in August 2020.

Grozev shared with CNN that Clinton had a suggestion for the Biden administration: swapping Navalny for a Russian individual tied to the FSB, convicted of murder in Berlin. Another possibility discussed was Victor Bout, a Russian arms dealer. (Bout was later released by the US in December 2022 in exchange for American basketball player Brittney Griner, who was imprisoned in Russia for cannabis possession.)

According to Grozev, Clinton initially relayed this message to US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. A source confirmed that Clinton had indeed contacted Sullivan. The National Security Council chose not to provide a statement on the matter.

Navalny adviser Pevchikh revealed that a proposed deal included the exchange of Vadim Krasikov, a convicted murderer and FSB officer, for two American citizens and Alexey Navalny. Krasikov, sent by Russian security services with a fake identity, was found guilty of killing a Chechen dissident in Berlin in 2019. He is currently serving a life sentence in a Berlin court.

The Kremlin denied any involvement on behalf of the state. However, in a recent statement, Putin hinted at the idea of negotiating the release of a Russian "patriot" imprisoned in Europe for eliminating a criminal, without directly mentioning Krasikov. During an interview with Tucker Carlson in Moscow, Putin suggested that this negotiation could involve the exchange of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is facing espionage charges in Russia.

The specifics of the proposed deal are not clear yet. Yet, a source close to Navalny's team mentioned a broader proposal that could potentially lead to the release of both Gershkovich and another American, Paul Whelan, who is currently detained in Russia, along with Navalny.

A source close to Navalny's team revealed the challenges faced in packaging the German asset Krasikov into an American negotiation. Initially, the Russians suggested exchanging a German-Russian dual citizen held in Russia for Krasikov, but the Germans rejected this proposal.

The situation evolved into a complex triangular arrangement. The source explained that it was necessary to clarify to the Americans that for them to secure Whelan and Gershkovich, the Russians needed to receive Krasikov. However, the Germans insisted on exchanging Krasikov only for Navalny.

"The German government was really committed to it," a Western diplomat mentioned to CNN recently. However, the diplomat also mentioned that it was unlikely for the Russians to agree to exchange three important prisoners - Navalny, Gershkovich, and Whelan - for just one - Krasikov. They would have wanted to negotiate for more.

"There are other dangerous Russians out there. The challenge was to find a way to get everyone on the same page, so different suggestions were being considered," the diplomat explained. "You have to think outside the box."

Another potential addition to the list is Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov, who is suspected of being a Russian spy. He is currently facing charges of fraud and other crimes brought by the US Department of Justice in Brazil. Both Russian and American extradition requests have been rejected by Brazilian authorities.

According to a source close to Navalny's team, one of the biggest challenges was getting the message to Putin. Despite interest from mid-level officials, there was reluctance to inform Putin directly, with many backing out at the last minute.

Abramovich, as per various sources, did not back down. However, the exact timing and method of how he presented the informal proposal to the Kremlin or to President Putin himself have not been confirmed yet. Unfortunately, the process did not progress quickly enough to help save Navalny.

Despite the Kremlin's denial, Navalny's aides firmly believe that Putin orchestrated the assassination of the opposition leader.

Editor's P/S:

The prisoner exchange involving Alexey Navalny, a prominent Russian opposition leader, is a complex and multifaceted story that highlights the intricate web of diplomacy, negotiation, and international relations. The involvement of Roman Abramovich, a Russian oligarch, and Hillary Clinton, former US Secretary of State, adds further intrigue to the situation.

The article reveals the ongoing efforts to secure Navalny's release, which gained momentum after Abramovich's visit to Moscow. Clinton's support for Navalny's release and the potential exchange of individuals, including FSB officers, arms dealers, and American citizens, demonstrates the international pressure on Russia. However, the untimely death of Navalny before a deal could be finalized raises questions about the Kremlin's intentions and the effectiveness of diplomatic negotiations in the face of political assassinations. The article exposes the challenges of balancing international interests, human rights concerns, and the complexities of geopolitical conflicts, leaving readers to reflect on the fragility of justice and the need for accountability in the pursuit of peace.