Former President of the United States, Donald Trump, has for the first time publically expressed his condemnation regarding the prison death of Russian dissident, Alexei Navalni. In a somewhat surprising move, he has suggested that this form of persecution for political motives is not only confined to Russia, but is also prevalent in the United States, with him being a notable victim of such occurrences.
Trump described the story of Navalni as “very sad”. In a recent interview with Fox News, he praised Navalni’s courage, stating that he had the option to remain abroad following a poisoning incident three years prior, but instead, he chose to return to Russia. Trump expressed admiration for such bravery.
However, Trump did not miss the opportunity to draw parallels between Navalni’s situation and his own. He has often faced criticism for maintaining silence on this particular issue, but in his latest response, he used this platform to assert that he also is a victim of judicial persecution for political reasons. He has often used this narrative to discredit the numerous ongoing cases against him.
“It’s a terrible thing, but it’s happening right here in our own country. We are slowly transforming into a communist country in many aspects,” said Trump. He frequently accuses the current Joe Biden Administration of orchestrating a witch hunt against him.
In the same interview, Trump refrained from blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin for Navalni’s death, a stance that sharply contrasts with President Biden’s. The current U.S. administration is already planning a new series of sanctions against Russia in direct response to Navalni’s case.
