After massive criticism

Trump comments on the death of Navalny

Donald Trump was "reminded of what is happening in our country" by the death of Alexei Navalny.(Bild: APA/Getty Images via AFP/GETTY IMAGES/JOE RAEDLE)

Following fierce criticism from his Republican rival Nikki Haley, Donald Trump has now also commented on the death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. However, condolences were not part of the statement.

Instead, the former US president made an absurd comparison on the Truth Social platform, which he co-founded. "The sudden death of Alexei Navalny has made me more and more aware of what is happening in our country," he wrote on Monday. "It's a slow, steady progression, with lying, far-left politicians, prosecutors and judges leading us down a path of destruction."

Over the weekend, Trump had already shared an opinion piece comparing the treatment of Trump in the US to Putin's treatment of Navalny. Trump wrote the headline of the article above his post: "Biden:Trump:Putin:Navalny".

Haley demanded comment: "Either he's for Trump ..."
Trump was initially conspicuously silent after Navalny's death. His rival Nikki Haley, who, like the 77-year-old, is running for the Republican presidential nomination, had heavily criticized him for this. Trump must answer whether he believes Putin is responsible for Navalny's death, the 52-year-old demanded on US television on Sunday evening (local time). She had previously said: "Either he's on Putin's side and thinks it's cool that Putin killed one of his political opponents, or he doesn't think it's such a big deal. Both are worrying. Both are a problem."

So while Trump is not apportioning blame in any direction, it is clear to the EU who is behind the death of the prominent detainee. "The European Union is shocked by the death of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, for which President Putin and the Russian authorities are ultimately responsible," reads a statement published by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. 

The EU will spare no effort to hold Russia's political leadership and the Russian authorities to account - including through sanctions. The EU also calls on the Russian authorities to allow an independent and transparent international investigation into the circumstances of Navalny's sudden death and to release people detained during mourning rallies. Russia has repeatedly been called upon to ensure Navalny's health and safety.

Navalny's body remains under lock and key
Meanwhile, the Russian authorities intend to keep the body of the Kremlin critic, who died in custody, under lock and key for at least another 14 days, according to his team. "The investigators have told Alexei's lawyers and mother that they will not release the body," Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday. The reason given was "chemical tests" to be carried out on the body.

Family and comrades-in-arms mourn Alexei Navalny.(Bild: AP)

On Monday morning, Alexei's mother Lyudmila Navalnaya and the lawyers were not allowed into the mortuary in the northern Russian town of Salekhard. "When asked whether Alexei's body was there, the staff did not answer," Yarmysh told X.