Canadian lawmakers are condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin and his government following the announcement that prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny has died while serving a sentence in an Arctic prison.
“Alexei Navalny’s death has shaken us all,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in an interview with CBC News in Winnipeg on Friday. “This is a reminder to the whole world that President Putin is truly a monster.”
“There is no question that Alexei Navalny died because he stood up to President Putin and stood up to the Kremlin. He stood up for freedom and democracy and the right of the Russian people to choose their future,” Trudeau said. “And that’s what President Putin wanted.” Naturally, he was deeply afraid. ”
The prime minister added that Navalny’s death has made Canada and other Western countries even more determined to stand up to Putin’s human rights abuses and violations of international law.
In a social media post, Prime Minister Trudeau expressed his condolences to Navalny’s family and supporters, saying his courage was unparalleled.
“Let me be clear: he should never have been imprisoned in the first place. This is a reminder that we must continue to promote, protect and defend democracy everywhere.” Let me be an important reminder: The consequences of failing to do so are clear,” Trudeau wrote to X.
Attention: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses Navalny’s death
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Alexei Navalny was a fighter for human rights, democracy and the future of the Russian people and country. Trudeau added that news of Navalny’s death is an opportunity to reflect on his courage and inspiration and to “double and triple our resolve” to stand up to President Vladimir Putin.
Navalny, 47, was arrested by Russian authorities in 2021 upon his return from Germany after spending five months recovering from nerve agent poisoning. He was charged and convicted in a series of cases involving embezzlement, fraud and extremism charges.
Conservatives condemn President Putin: Poièvre
The federal prison in the Yamalo-Nenets region, where Navalny was serving his sentence, announced the dissident’s death on Friday.
Prison authorities said Navalny “felt unwell” and “almost lost consciousness immediately” after Friday’s walk.
Medical staff were called but were unable to revive him, the statement said. Officials said the cause of death was still being determined.
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly echoed the prime minister’s comments.
“Alexei Navalny gave freedom to the Russian people in hopes of a better and more democratic future,” Jolie wrote on social media. This is a painful reminder,” he wrote. “My thoughts are with his wife Yulia, his family and his loved ones.”
Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations, Bob Rae, held the Russian president responsible for Navalny’s death.
“Putin killed Mr. Navalny as surely as strangling him with his bare hands,” Ray wrote in X.
Reports of Alexei Navalny’s death are tragic and horrifying. An unwavering defender of Russian democracy and freedom, his courage was unparalleled.
Let me be clear: He should never have been imprisoned in the first place. May this be an important reminder that we must continue…
Conservative leader Pierre Poièvre blamed Putin for Navalny’s death.
“Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has died in prison. Mr. Putin imprisoned Mr. Navalny for his actions against the regime. Conservatives condemn Mr. Putin’s death,” Poièvre wrote in X.
Michael Chong, the party’s foreign affairs commentator, wrote that Navalny was imprisoned solely because he is an opposition leader.
“Conservatives are blaming President Putin and the Russian Federation for his death. This is not a characteristic of a great power, but a characteristic of a pariah state,” Chung said.
President Putin was as sure as if he had strangled him with his bare hands.#Navalnywas murdered. .
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he was saddened by reports of the death of an opposition figure.
“Navalny’s important work exposed corruption by the Putin oligarchy, for which he was killed,” Singh wrote on social media. “My thoughts are with President Putin’s loved ones and all political prisoners targeted by President Putin.”
NDP foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson said she was appalled by reports of Navalny’s death.
“He bravely exposed the corruption and greed of President Putin and his oligarchs, and was poisoned and killed for it. His death is at the hands of President Putin,” McPherson wrote on social media. “My condolences go to the Russian people and all those who loved Mr. Navalny.”
Navalny: “If you get killed, don’t give up”
In an Oscar-winning documentary Navalnya rebel figure conveyed a message to his supporters in case he was killed by Russian authorities.
“We cannot give up. If they decide to kill me, it means we are incredibly strong,” Navalny said in Russian.
“We must use this power to not give up and to remember that we are a great power and are oppressed by evil people. “It’s better for good people to do nothing. So don’t be inactive,” Navalny said.
The opposition figure returned to Russia shortly after making these statements. He was arrested by Russian authorities as soon as he landed in Moscow in 2021.