US President Joe Biden says his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is "responsible" for the death of Russia's opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
In a press conference at the White House, Mr Biden said he's "outraged" but "not surprised" by the news, though he stopped short of calling it an "assassination."
Navalny died aged 47 on Friday in an Arctic Circle penal colony, according to the country's prison service.
He was poisoned before being arrested and prosecuted in Russia, and was serving 19 years in jail on extremism charges that are viewed by many Western nations as politically motivated.
Benji Hyer reports.
IN: Joe Biden
OUT: Benji Hyer, Washington
DUR: 55 secs
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0216biden-bh-generic.mp3
BACK-ANNO: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has lambasted statements made by Western leaders as "absolutely rabid." A spokesman for Vladmir Putin said Russia's penitentiary service was looking into Navalny's death but provided no further information.