Days after airing an attention-getting interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tucker Carlson decried the “horrifying” news of the death of a Kremlin critic.
As news broke Friday of the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in prison, Carlson was reached by DailyMail.com for comment as he traveled from Dubai.
“I didn’t even know it happened till I saw the Daily Mail story,” the former Fox News host said.
News of Navalny’s death came amid criticism of Carlson for what critics called a softball interview with the Russian president and videos praising the country’s clean train stations and inexpensive groceries. While Carlson has been defending his reporting, he minced no words in calling out the “barbaric” death of Navalny.
“It’s horrifying what happened to Navalny,” he told Daily Mail. “The whole thing is barbaric and awful. No decent person would defend it.”
The news of the death of Navalny, 47, triggered global shockwaves as fresh condemnation for Russia’s leader poured in, Though no cause of death has been released yet, many have already launched theories about what happened.
“On Feb. 16, 2024, in penal colony number 3, convict Alexei Navalny felt unwell after a walk, almost immediately losing consciousness,” read a text of the release from the prison service of the Yamalo-Nenets region which was translated by Reuters.
“The medical staff of the institution arrived immediately, and an ambulance team was called. All necessary resuscitation measures were carried out, which did not yield positive results,” the release added. “Doctors of the ambulance stated the death of the convict. The causes of death are being established.”
Navalny’s widow received a standing ovation after delivering a scathing message at the Munich Security Conference on Friday to those responsible for his death.
Navalny’s father confirmed the death of his son, Russian media report.
Yulia Navalnaya, Aleksey Navalny’s wife, spoke during the Munich Security Conference:
“I want to call on the entire international community, everyone in this room, people around the world, to unite… https://t.co/ULLF4pJP05 pic.twitter.com/sr9HwlT8SJ
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) February 16, 2024
“I would like Putin and all his staff – everybody around him, his government, his friends – I want them to know that they will be punished for what they have done with our country, with my family and with my husband,” she said in one translation of her comments. “They will be brought to justice, and this day will come soon.”
Meanwhile, the leftist media and Carlson’s critics have been hyper-focused on his interview with Putin and the comments he made during the World Government Summit on Monday.
Asked by Egyptian journalist Emad El Din Adeeb why he didn’t press Putin on relevant issues such as censorship, alleged assassinations, elections and Navalny, Carlson replied, “I didn’t talk about the things that every other American media outlet talks about because those are covered.”
Tucker Carlson, when asked about Alexei Navalny, opposition leaders and journalists in Russia: “Every leader kills people. Some kill more than others. Leadership requires killing people.”pic.twitter.com/pE4SIKdaIO
— Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) February 16, 2024
“I have spent my life speaking to people who run countries, in various countries, and have concluded the following: That every leader kills people, including my leader,” he said, in comments the left fixated on to demonize him.
“Every leader kills people, some kill more than others. Leadership requires killing people, sorry. That’s why I wouldn’t want to be a leader,” Carlson explained.
A video posted online showed Navalny in good spirits as he just made a court appearance.
Yesterday, Aleksey Navalny spoke in court via video link. He seemed to be in good health and and even joked. https://t.co/iXxwW3MSXM pic.twitter.com/mXDeJuVpPg
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) February 16, 2024
Navalny’s widow spoke at the Munich Security Conference just after Vice President Kamala Harris.
Vice President Kamala Harris says it’s terrible news that Alexei Navalny has died and Russia is responsible for his death. WATCH pic.twitter.com/sZQKcXpXRQ
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) February 16, 2024
“We’ve all just received reports that Alexei Navalny has died in Russia. This is of course terrible news, which we are working to confirm,” Harris had said. “My prayers are with his family, including his wife, Yulia, who is with us today. And if confirmed, this would be a further sign of Putin’s brutality.”
“Whatever story they tell, let us be clear, Russia is responsible,” Harris added.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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