Angela Merkel laments 'profound horror' at death of Russian Oppositionist Alexei Navalny

"The news of Alexei Navalny's death fills me with profound horror. He was a victim of an oppressive governmental power in Russia. Tragically, a courageous and outspoken voice advocating for his country was silenced through horrifying methods. My thoughts are with his wife, children, friends, and colleagues," Angela Merkel stated.

"Bild" recalls that the former chancellor conducted an active campaign supporting Navalny during her office.

Merkel visited Navalny in the Charité hospital in Berlin in 2020. Navalny was transported there following an attempt on his life with the paralytic-convulsive agent Novichok in August 2020 during a flight from Tomsk to Omsk. Merkel visited him upon his emergence from a coma.

"The covert visit was understood as a signal from Merkel to Putin, Kremlin's autocrat, that Berlin would not back down in this case until the real circumstances behind the assassination attempt were revealed," writes "Bild".

"The door opened, and my doctor and Merkel entered. I was impressed by her deep understanding of Russia and my situation. She was acquainted with some details even better than me (...). I thanked her for her support, to which she replied, 'I only did what was my duty'," Navalny retold his encounter with the German Chancellor.

In 2021, Navalny made the decision to voluntarily return to Russia. Following his return, he was charged and sentenced to a lengthy prison term in a penal colony.

Source: "Bild"