Early voting in Russia's presidential election is underway in parts of Russia-occupied Ukraine, as more details emerge about the death of Alexei Navalny, a prominent critic of Vladimir Putin. Prior to Navalny's death, discussions were held regarding a potential prisoner exchange involving him. The idea was informally conceived during a conversation between former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Krzysztof Grozew at an Aspen Ideas Festival. This led to a two-year process of negotiations and planning for the swap deal.
After the initial discussion, Clinton brought the proposal to her friend and former colleague, now National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, who escalated it to the State Department. Over the following years, various channels were explored to communicate with the Kremlin, but attempts to reach out to the Russian president were reportedly unsuccessful.
Roman Abramovich, a close ally of Putin and former owner of Chelsea Football Club, eventually delivered a message the night before Navalny's death. Sources close to Abramovich expressed shock at Navalny's passing. American sources involved in the negotiations indicated that the deal was close to being agreed upon, with informal acceptance being a crucial step in such diplomatic talks.
While the White House denied making any formal offer to Russia at the time of Navalny's death, the behind-the-scenes negotiations highlighted ongoing efforts to engage Russia in dialogue. The intricate web of discussions and attempts to secure Navalny's release underscored the complexities of international diplomacy and the challenges of navigating sensitive political matters.
