Quick Bytes
- President Biden to announce sanctions against Putin following Alexei Navalny’s death.
- Navalny, serving a 20+ year sentence, died in a penal colony, with his death deemed natural by Russian authorities.
- Biden administration aims to target Russia’s war machine with a robust sanctions package.
Summary of Biden’s Upcoming Sanctions on Putin
President Biden has confirmed that the United States will impose new sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin. This decision comes after Biden’s meeting with Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and their daughter Dasha. The sanctions are a response to Navalny’s death, which occurred while he was serving a lengthy prison sentence on charges that have been criticized as politically motivated.
Navalny’s death in a penal colony was officially attributed to natural causes by Russian authorities, but Biden and Navalny’s supporters hold Putin responsible. The Biden administration had previously warned of severe repercussions for Russia if Navalny were to die in custody. The exact details of the sanctions remain undisclosed, but they are described as robust and consistent with previous measures, specifically targeting Russia’s military capabilities.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller has indicated that the sanctions will continue the approach of past actions while also addressing Navalny’s death directly. The announcement aligns with the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, signaling a continued U.S. commitment to holding the Russian government accountable for its actions.
