Alexei Navalny describes ‘corrupt officials’ living in London helping Putin in never-before-seen interview | World News
The Russian opposition chief, who died earlier this month, made the remarks in a 2020 interview acquired by Sky News. He additionally spoke of his hopes for Russia and the dangers he knew he was taking.
By Sophie Alexander, worldwide affairs producer
Alexei Navalny as soon as hit out on the “corrupt officials” living in London who allegedly assist Vladimir Putin’s regime stash soiled cash, Sky News can reveal.
In a never-before-seen interview acquired by Sky News, the late Russian opposition chief spoke about his hope for a greater future for his nation – and the dangers he knew he was taking.
“I am an optimist,” he stated. “I hope that this 20 years of Putin is not set in stone. We weren’t doomed to it, we weren’t meant to go in that direction.”
He made the feedback in an interview 4 years earlier than his loss of life in a penal colony north of the Arctic Circle.
Considered to be essentially the most vocal critic of President Putin, Mr Navalny collapsed and did not regain consciousness on 16 February.
The interview was performed in February 2020 and is believed to be one of many final that Mr Navalny would give whereas in full well being.
In August that 12 months he was poisoned whereas on a flight again to Moscow.
The wide-ranging interview takes in his hopes for a Russian future as a part of Europe, his private security and a few robust phrases for Britain and the West when it got here to letting Mr Putin’s associates get away with it.
“The West does nothing at all, I would say. There are some ritual dances, but nothing really happens,” he says.
“Why do corrupt officers nonetheless reside in London? Because these corrupt officers feed an enormous variety of fantastic London legal professionals.
“These people, they will appear very civilised, we will be pleased to chat with them if they sit next to us, they will be wearing a tie and fine manners, and at the same time they are serving the interests of utter, complete bandits.”
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office paid tribute to Mr Navalny’s life exposing Russian corruption.
It added: “The UK has sanctioned 2,000 individuals, companies and groups under our Russia sanctions regime alone, while directly targeting Putin-linked elites in the UK through the National Crime Agency’s Combatting Kleptocracy Cell. Corruption and kleptocracy will never be welcome on our shores.”
Read extra:
Some of Mr Navalny’s strongest phrases are in opposition to the West – evaluation
Russia denies declare Navalny was poisoned with novichok
Who is Alexei Navalny’s spouse Yulia?
In phrases that echo louder now after his loss of life in jail, Mr Navalny provides: “Russia is a European nation, all of the individuals who reside right here wish to reside like Europe.
“So I hope that 10 years from now, if you happen to interview me once more, I’ll be capable of let you know how we managed to beat the corrupt cash laundering.”
The interview, acquired by Sky News and broadcast for the primary time, was shot as a part of an unaired documentary sequence, After The Fall, directed by Matthew Torne and produced by Andrew Duncan.
