KYIV, Ukraine — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling Vladimir Putin a “weakling” ahead of Russian presidential elections next month and in the wake of the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Speaking with reporters at the end of a surprise trip to Ukraine, Trudeau accused Putin of "executing" Navalny and using police and the military to crush opposition in Russia.
Russian authorities say Navalny died a week ago in the Arctic penal colony where he was serving a 19−year sentence.
Navalny was roundly considered Putin’s greatest political foe.
Putin is running for a fifth term as president next month in an election he is all but certain to win.
Asked whether he would recognize the results of that election, Trudeau called Putin a coward for quashing political dissent to make sure there is no opposition.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2024.
The Canadian Press
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