Anti-Kremlin activist Bill Browder said he believes Alexei Navalny's death was intended as a message to political opponents of Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of elections next month.
Dissident Navalny, who died Friday, had been serving a 19-year prison sentence on charges of extremism in Russia, which he vehemently denied.
World leaders reacted with dismay and suspicion to the death, with U.S. President Joe Biden saying "Putin is responsible."
Russia's Foreign Ministry on Friday said the West's reaction to Navalny's death was "self-exposing," given that no forensic medical examination had been made available at the time.
Browder, the CEO and co-founder of Hermitage Capital Management and a friend of Navalny, also accused the Russian leader of being behind the death.
Persons:
Bill Browder, Alexei Navalny's, Vladimir Putin, Navalny, Joe Biden, Putin, Browder, Alexei Navalny, CNBC's Silvia Amaro Saturday
Organizations:
Kremlin, U.S, Hermitage Capital Management, Munich Security Conference
Locations:
Russia