The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Navalny’s death was « Russia’s internal affair » in response to a media query.
Chinese media outlets have echoed narratives that align closely with Russian official statements following the death of Russia’s leading opposition figure Alexei Navalny.
Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service said Friday that Navalny, who has been in jail under major fraud and contempt of court charges since February 2021, felt unwell after a walk, « lost consciousness almost immediately, » and died shortly afterward at the age of 47.
The framing of Navalny’s death by Chinese media, coupled with the government’s official response and the subdued reactions on social media, underscores the delicate balance China maintains in its diplomatic relations with Russia.
China News Service, another state media outlet, succinctly repeated Navalny’s convictions in Russia, without providing context, on Friday following his death—that he was sentenced for « economic crimes » in 2021 and « for crimes such as building extremist communities and funding extremist activities. »
The Chinese government’s stance on Navalny’s death was summarized by the Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson’s Office in response to inquiries from Agence France-Presse: « This is Russia’s internal affair.
