German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has been criticized for her handling of the Alexei Navalny case, particularly in the wake of his death in a Russian prison. Baerbock had previously expressed her condolences on social media, describing Navalny as a “great opposition leader and freedom fighter.” However, a recent investigation by Der Spiegel has revealed that Baerbock’s support was largely superficial.
According to the investigation, Baerbock was instrumental in blocking a proposed prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia, which would have freed Navalny in exchange for a Russian prisoner serving a life sentence in the US. The deal was reportedly close to being finalized, but Baerbock’s objections, which were based on moral and principled grounds, ultimately scuttled the plan.
The investigation, which was based on interviews with numerous sources, revealed that Baerbock had expressed concerns that Navalny would return to Russia immediately after his release and that the US prisoner being released was a convicted murderer. Despite the efforts of US and German officials to persuade her to reconsider, Baerbock remained opposed to the deal and Navalny ultimately died in prison.
The article concludes that Baerbock’s actions, while well-intentioned, had a devastating impact on Navalny’s fate and that the case highlights the often cynical and pragmatic nature of international diplomacy, in which the interests of nations and individuals are frequently pitted against one another.