Allies of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny have alleged that his death might have been orchestrated to thwart a proposed prisoner exchange involving Vadim Krasikov, a convicted hitman and former FSB colonel serving a life sentence in Germany. Krasikov was imprisoned for the 2019 murder of Chechen dissident Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Berlin's Tiergarten park.

The assassination of Khangoshvili by Krasikov, who entered Germany using forged documents, led to a diplomatic row resulting in the expulsion of two Russian diplomats from Germany. Although a Berlin court labeled the killing as "state-ordered murder," Putin and the Kremlin denied any involvement.

Speculations arose concerning a potential swap that could see Krasikov being released for the return of US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was held in a "US allied country", following hints from Russian representatives. Reports suggested discussions involving the exchange of Krasikov for US citizens Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, who were detained in Russia in 2022.

German and US government authorities have remained tight-lipped about the alleged swap plans, with both dismissing the possibility of releasing a convict for murder in exchange for hostages. Navalny's allies criticized the handling of negotiations for his release, suggesting delays in talks despite completed plans by early 2023.

The intricate web of potential prisoner exchanges, allegations of state-ordered assassinations, and the tense diplomatic relations between Russia, Germany, and the US continue to unfold, shedding light on the complex dealings at play on the international stage.