Moscow, Russia; Russia president Vladimir Putin. Tim Groothuis/Witters Sport via USA TODAY Sports
(Washington, DC) — President Biden says the U.S. is placing more than 500 new sanctions on Russia today. The Treasury Department says the move aims to punish Moscow’s war machine and those being held responsible for the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Biden says the sanctions will target individuals connected to Navalny’s imprisonment in addition to Russia’s financial sector. Despite sanctions already in place, Russia’s economy has been growing as it increases trade with nations like China and India. The sanctions come a day ahead of the two year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Navalny’s cause of death is listed as “natural” on his medical report. That’s according to his spokesperson who was given the information by his mother. The vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin died while in prison last week. In a video statement posted on YouTube, Navalny’s mother said she was “secretly” taken to view his body at the morgue.
