Bellingcat investigator Hristo Grozev, known for uncovering the perpetrators behind Alexei Navalny's 2020 poisoning, has expressed strong suspicions that the Russian opposition leader was poisoned once again.
In a discussion with journalist Mikhail Zygar, Grozev suggested that Navalny's recent demise is likely linked to another attempt with the nerve agent Novichok, echoing the method used in the 2020 attack.
Grozev pointed out that the motivations behind using Novichok again stem from an unwillingness to leave the previous assassination attempt incomplete, given the significant resources already expended on it. ,
"Because otherwise, there remains another unfinished murder by Novichok, in which they have invested so many years and so much money that it is impossible to leave this [case] unfinished," Grozev stated, clarifying that this view is an analytical conclusion rather than a direct outcome of an investigation.
Navalny's Death Would not be the Last Such Incident
Furthermore, Grozev expressed concerns about the potential continuation of political killings and the implications for opposition figures.
He relayed a hint from a source suggesting that Navalny's death would not be the last such incident. Grozev also speculated that Putin's motive behind Navalny's murder might be to demonstrate to the West that Russia no longer recognizes any red lines, thereby pressuring Western nations into negotiations over Ukraine on Russian terms.
Navalny passed away in the Polar Wolf colony in Kharp, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, where he was serving a 19-year sentence since his transfer in December 2023.
The official cause of death provided by the Federal Penitentiary Service was a sudden blood clot detachment. However, Navalny's allies have labeled his death as a murder orchestrated by the Russian authorities, criticizing the delay in releasing Navalny's body to his mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, and the conditions placed on not holding a public funeral.
Grozev, who previously identified the FSB officers involved in Navalny's Novichok poisoning in 2020, is now working with Navalny's associates to investigate the circumstances surrounding the politician's death, highlighting ongoing efforts to seek justice and uncover the truth behind these sinister events.
