Biden Meets with Navalny's Family... Over 500 Russian Sanctions Tomorrow

U.S. President Joe Biden personally met with the wife and children of opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who died in prison after leading a reform movement against Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Biden administration is set to announce a major new round of sanctions against Russia the following day. The sanctions are confirmed to target more than 500 entities.

[Image source=UPI Yonhap News]

According to the White House on the 22nd (local time), President Biden met with Navalny's wife Yulia Navalnaya and daughter Dasha Navalnaya in San Francisco to express his condolences. He emphasized, "Navalny's courage and legacy will live on through the countless people across Russia who fight for democracy and human rights."

He also confirmed that the Biden administration will impose sanctions on Russia on the 23rd in response to Navalny's death and Russia's brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine. President Biden told reporters shortly afterward, "It was an honor to meet Navalny's wife and daughter," adding, "Tomorrow, we will announce sanctions against Putin, who is responsible for Navalny's death."

Wally Adeyemo, U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, stated that the sanctions announced the next day will apply to more than 500 entities. He said, "On the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, these sanctions are intended to hold accountable those responsible for the death of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny in prison," adding that the sanctions will also target Russia's military-industrial complex and third-country companies that help secure supplies.

Victoria Nuland, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, also explained at a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) event that these sanctions are "aimed at striking Putin's war machine," and that some of the hundreds of sanctions specifically target those responsible for Navalny's death.

While major Western countries, including the U.S., have condemned President Putin for his involvement in Navalny's death, Russia strongly denies the allegations. Russia also expressed displeasure over President Biden's recent explicit insult, when he said, "We have ‘crazy S.O.B.s’ like Putin," the day before. Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Kremlin, mocked, saying, "It only lowers America's values," and suggested that "Biden might be acting like a Hollywood cowboy for domestic political gain."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.