Commenting on Navalny’s death for first time, Putin says he supported prisoner swap for his foe

By DASHA LITVINOVA
Associated Press

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he supported an idea to release opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a prisoner exchange just days before the man who was his biggest foe died. In his first comments to address Navalny’s death, Putin said of the dissident’s demise: “It happens. There is nothing you can do about it. It’s life.” The remarks early Monday were unusual in that he repeatedly referenced Navalny by his name for the first time in years. U.S. officials say there had been no discussions between Russia and the United States over swapping Alexei Navalny with prisoners from the West.