Putin says he agreed to idea of swapping Alexei Navalny for prisoners held in the West

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that he agreed with the idea of a prisoner swap involving opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in prison.

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday that he agreed with the idea of a prisoner swap involving opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in a penal colony, and "some people in prison in Western countries."

Putin's comments came after NBC News asked: “Mr. President, journalist Evan Gershkovich spent this election in prison; Boris Nadezhdin, who opposes your war in Ukraine, was not allowed to stand against you; and Alexei Navalny died in one of your prisons during your campaign. Mr. President, is this what you’d call democracy?”

Putin, who rarely speaks Navalny’s name, said in response that "several days before Mr. Navalny perished, I was told by some of my colleagues ... that there is an idea to exchange Mr. Navalny for some people in prison in Western countries."

"Believe me or not, the person talking to me hardly finished their sentence when I said: 'I agree.' But unfortunately, the thing that happened happened," Putin added, speaking as he declared victory in the country's elections.

Putin’s remarks came on the last day of a national election in which he claimed a landslide victory. His expected win, following a relentless crackdown on dissent, will extend his nearly quarter-century of rule for six more years. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/putin-navalny-was-part-prisoner-swap-rcna143802

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