Alexey Navalny Says Putin Wants Him Dead

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: So, are you absolutely confident that these people — I mean, there’s no evidence — or at least we’re told that they come back up thinking that these people who followed you actually were the ones who poisoned you. What do you think about that? Who do you think did it?

ALEXEI NAVALNY, RUSSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER: Well, I’m sure 100 percent, because I followed this investigation within a month. We were part of this investigation. We checked all data, and our — we did part of this job. So, all evidence just show us that this was a system and actually the whole department of FSB who was involved in this daily routine of following me, of preparing the action and waiting for the order. And we know FSB work. And so the operation of such skill and for such a long time cannot be — cannot exist without ruling of the chief of FSB, Mr. Bortnikov. And he would never dare it without direct order of President Putin. So, I’m 100 percent sure that, when I’m — it was Putin who make this order right after I declare that I’m running for office, I’m — I was going for presidency back in the — 2016. And then this team was created, and they are following me within four years. And they did several attempts of murder. And I’m totally sure that Putin was aware and he got reports during this — the — during this job.

AMANPOUR: Mm-hmm. Well, of course, the reporters have tried to get comment from Putin, from his spokespeople. And they haven’t responded yet. But, as you know, President Putin and the Kremlin denied any involvement back when it was clear that you had been poisoned, and says that, if you were poisoned with Novichok, it happened once you left Russian territory. I know what you — what you think. But here’s the thing. “The Wall Street Journal” has said in the past that the man Vladimir Putin fears most is Alexei Navalny. And he doesn’t talk about you. He doesn’t say your name. How much longer do you think that they can keep this up? Because even before the report came out yesterday, CNN and Bellingcat, you had the German authorities, who immediately investigated from the elements that were taken from your hotel to Germany with you in that plane, and they said that it was highly possible and probable that it was Kremlin-orchestrated, or at least by the intelligence services there.

NAVALNY: Well, what do you expect from him, his confession, his public confession, like in the movies, like, guys, I did it, I’m very sorry, I would never do it again?