Biden Promises Navalny's Widow Russia Will Be Punished for Husband's Death

President Joe Biden promised Alexei Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, on Thursday that her husband's death will not go unpunished.

The president met with Navalny's wife and daughter, Dasha, in California to express his condolences for their loved one's death in a Russian prison last week. During the meeting, Biden discussed a significant sanctions package that will be leveled against Russia in response to the death of Navalny, a longtime critic of the Kremlin, according to a readout from the White House.

The Context

Deputy U.S. Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told Reuters on Thursday that the U.S. will impose sanctions on over 500 targets on Friday. The sanctions—timed to Saturday's second anniversary of Russian's invasion of Ukraine—will reportedly target Russia's military industrial complex and companies located in third countries that help give Russia receive goods.

The new sanctions package adds to the record number of sanctions already imposed on Russia in light of the war in Ukraine. While the war-related sanctions have isolated Russia's largest banks and curbed the imports of technology and military equipment into the country, the restrictions have largely failed to leave a major impact on Moscow's economy.

What We Know

Biden told reporters Thursday afternoon that it was an "honor" to meet with Yulia and Dasha Navalnaya, saying that the U.S. is "not letting up" from pressing Russia over Navalny's death.

"As to state the obvious, he was a man of incredible courage, and it's amazing how his wife and daughter are emulating that," the president said. He added that it was "made clear" to him that Navalny's wife is going to "continue to fight."

Photos of Biden meeting with Navalny's family were also shared to X, formerly Twitter. The president wrote alongside the post that Alexei's "legacy of courage will live on in Yulia and Dasha, and the countless people across Russia fighting for democracy and human rights."

The View

The Kremlin has denied involvement in Navalny's death. Prison officials said in a statement last week that the activist had "felt unwell after a walk" and "almost immediately" lost consciousness, then died. Navalny's family members have rejected claims that his death was "natural," and Yulia Navalnaya has said that she believes Putin is behind her late husband's death.

Navalny's mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, said in a video message shared to X on Thursday that Russian investigators had allowed her to see her son's body, but that they pressured her to hold a secret funeral.

"They want it to be done secretly, without a farewell," Lyudmila said, according to English captions provided on her statement. "They want to bring me to the outskirts of the cemetery, to a fresh grave and say, 'Here lies your son.'"

"I don't agree with that," she continued. "I want you, who cared about Alexei, and for whom his death was a personal tragedy, to have an opportunity to say goodbye to him."

Hundreds of Russian citizens were detained at vigils held for Navalny over the weekend, and some have been given military summonses upon release, according to local reports.

Newsweek has reached out to the Kremlin's press office via email for comment on Thursday.

What's Next?

It's unclear what will be included in Biden's new sanctions against Russia, although White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday that the package will "hold Russia accountable for what happened to Mr. Navalny and, quite frankly, for all its actions over the course of this vicious and brutal war that has now raged on for two years."

"Whatever story the Russian government decides to tell the world, it's clear that President Putin and his government are responsible for Mr. Navalny's death," Kirby added.

Update 02/22/24, 4:55 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and background.