The president of the USA Joe Biden will speak Friday from the White House about the death of the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

The White House announced that the remarks are scheduled for noon (local time) ahead of Biden’s planned visit to East Palestine, Ohio.

The American president was informed earlier about Navalny’s death, as announced by a White House spokesman.

The US Secretary of State Anthony Blinkenresponding earlier to reports that the Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny died in prison, told reporters traveling with him in Munich, Germany on Friday that “Russia is responsible for this.”

Although Blinken said the US was still working to confirm Navalny’s death, he made it clear the US held Russia responsible for the opposition leader’s death.

“For more than a decade, the Russian government — (Russian President Vladimir) Putin — prosecuted, poisoned and imprisoned Alexei Navalny and is now reporting his death. First and foremost, if these reports are accurate, our hearts go out to his wife and family.

“Beyond that, his death in a Russian prison and one man’s obsession and fear they only highlight the weakness and rot at the heart of the system Putin has built,” Blinken continued. Russia is responsible for this. We will speak to many other countries that are concerned about Alexei Navalny, especially if these reports turn out to be true.”