US intelligence agencies say Putin didn’t order Russian dissident Navalny’s February death
- While the assessment didn’t dispute Putin’s culpability for the death, it found that the timing possibly wasn’t as intended by Putin, the WSJ report said
- The assessment was based on information such as classified intelligence and an analysis of public facts, including the timing of his death
While the assessment did not dispute Putin’s culpability for the death, it found that the timing possibly was not as intended by Putin, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.
The finding is broadly accepted within the intelligence community and shared by several agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the State Department’s intelligence unit, according to the report.
The Kremlin has denied any state involvement.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday he had seen the Journal’s report, which he said contained “empty speculation”.
“I’ve seen the material, I wouldn’t say it’s high quality material that deserves attention,” Peskov said.
The latest assessment was based on a range of information such as classified intelligence and an analysis of public facts, including the timing of his death and how it overshadowed Putin’s re-election, the WSJ report said. Some European intelligence agencies have been told of the latest US view, it said.
Navalny fell sick during a walk at the remote maximum-security prison camp in the Arctic where he was last held, and medical staff were unable to revive him, the prison authorities said on February 16.