Yulia Navalnaya rejects characterization of Putin as humanist

Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has criticized White House special envoy Steve Witkoff for describing Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “humanist.” Speaking in London, Navalnaya called the description “nonsense,” stating, “Putin killed my husband.”

Navalnaya’s comments follow Witkoff’s recent remarks in Saint Petersburg, where he praised Putin’s humanitarianism in the context of the release of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired American professor. Hubbard had been serving a seven-year sentence in Russia for allegedly fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine.

Navalnaya, who currently leads the Human Rights Foundation, also addressed allegations regarding her husband's death. She noted that five European nations previously stated there is significant evidence that Navalny was poisoned while in prison. Alexei Navalny died in an Arctic prison in 2024 at age 47. While Russian authorities claim he died of natural causes, several governments, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, have alleged he was poisoned with a lethal toxin.