White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for his handling of the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," Sullivan stated that Navalny's death in a penal colony is a sign of Putin's weakness, rather than a display of strength as some have suggested.

Navalny, a longtime political opponent of Putin, passed away at the age of 47 in a penal colony earlier this month. While the Russian prison service claimed Navalny collapsed during a walk, the U.S. government holds Putin responsible for his death. President Joe Biden condemned Putin for Navalny's death, labeling it as further evidence of Putin's brutality.

Following Navalny's passing, Russian authorities handed over his body to his mother and wife on Saturday. Navalny's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, expressed gratitude to those who supported the call for the release of his body. The arrangements for Navalny's funeral are still pending, with uncertainty regarding whether authorities will allow it to be carried out as the family wishes.

Navalny's mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, alleged that authorities pressured her into agreeing to a private funeral, warning her that her son could be buried in the penal colony if she refused. When asked about the possibility of a public funeral for Navalny, Sullivan emphasized that the decision should be left to Navalny's mother, stating that every mother deserves to have the funeral for their child that they desire.