WH NatSec Adviser Jake Sullivan: ‘There Will Be Consequences’ If Alexei Navalny Dies in Prison

CNN’s Dana Bash pressed White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on why the Biden administration has not done more to pressure Russia over their treatment of Alexei Navalny.

Navalny, the outspoken leader of the Russian opposition to Vladimir Putin, has seen a significant health decline throughout his confinement in prison, and there are new concerns that he might die soon if he doesn’t receive medical attention. Bash brought this up as she interviewed Sullivan on Sunday for State of the Union, and she asked “What are you doing to free Navalny or at least get him medical attention and what price will Vladimir Putin pay if Navalny dies in prison?”

Sullivan diverted by pointing out that the U.S. was among the nations that sanctioned Russia after a government assassin nearly killed Navalny with a chemical weapon. Sullivan said Russia “will be held accountable” for whatever happens to Navalny while he’s in custody, and while he wouldn’t elaborate on what exactly this would look like, he said “we have communicated there will be consequences if Mr. Navalny dies.”

Bash continued by asking Sullivan why President Joe Biden didn’t mention Navalny during his phone call with Putin, nor in his White House remarks last week.

“Why isn’t President Biden demanding Navalny’s release, or at least, getting him a doctor at every single opportunity?” Bash asked.

Sullivan answered that the White House has assessed it would be more productive to have direct, private diplomatic conversations with the Russian government.

Since Biden has floated the possibility of a summer summit with Putin, Bash asked Sullivan, “Is the potential summit with Vladimir Putin on the table if Alexei Navalny passes away in prison?”

“I’m not going to get into hypotheticals, in large part because there isn’t currently a summit on the books,” Sullivan said. “It’s something we are talking about. That summit would have to take place, of course, in the right circumstances, in a way that could actually move the relationship forward. But I’m not going to get into hypotheticals about when or whether the summit would likely occur.”

Watch above, via CNN.