Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny was on the brink of being released in a potential prisoner exchange before his sudden passing, as revealed by his associate Maria Pevchikh in a recent YouTube video. The proposed swap would have seen Navalny and two unidentified US citizens traded for Russian Federal Security Service assassin Vadim Krasikov, who is serving a sentence for a 2019 murder in Germany. Navalny, known for his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, tragically passed away at age 47 in an Arctic penal colony where he was serving a 19-year sentence on extremism charges. Pevchikh disclosed that discussions for Navalny's freedom were underway on the evening of February 15, with plans for his imminent release as part of the negotiated exchange. The exchange offer, aimed at retrieving Krasikov, came as Putin expressed a desire to repatriate the FSB officer during an interview earlier in February. Although the Kremlin refuted any involvement in Navalny's sudden demise and dismissed accusations without evidence, global leaders, including the US, squarely held Putin accountable for Navalny's death and imposed sanctions in response to the shocking event.