Following the demise of Alexei Navalny, US will unleash “Major Sanctions Package” on Russia

According to President Joe Biden on Tuesday, who did not offer any other specifics, the United States is prepared to slap significant penalties on Russia on Friday in response to the passing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and the continued conflict in Ukraine.

The most recent sanctions against Russia, according to White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, will target a number of things, including the nation’s industrial and defense bases as well as economic revenue sources, Politico said.

According to White House national security spokeswoman John Kirby, the package will “hold Russia accountable for what happened to Mr. Navalny” and for its activities during the conflict in Ukraine. According to a top US official, Washington was already preparing a set of penalties to coincide with the war’s second anniversary, which it will now review and expand in light of Navalny’s passing.

According to two people with knowledge of the situation, Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson is talking about penalties in relation to Navalny’s passing while traveling to Europe this week.

Read More; Russian Opposition leader found dead in jail

According to the Treasury, Nelson is also talking about Washington’s power to go after those who support Russia’s efforts to produce weapons, even if they are located in other nations. Furthermore, it stated that the US is “aggressively pursuing those who attempt to evade our sanctions.” Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the US placed a wide range of sanctions on Russia, targeting banks, officials, and President Vladimir Putin.

The 2020 Navalny poisoning and detention were also the subject of the sanctions, which also targeted other officials and others connected to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB).

Read More: Widow of Navalny vows to continue husband’s opposition to Putin

The prison administration said that Navalny, who was serving a three-decade term at the “Polar Wolf” penal colony above the Arctic Circle, abruptly passed away on Friday after going for a stroll. Navalny was Putin’s most vocal domestic adversary.