Many were shocked last week after former Russian political candidate and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny died while in government custody.

Although Western governments were quick to suggest that Navalny was murdered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, conservative pundit Tucker Carlson isn't convinced. 

Carlson: "People who say Putin killed him are idiots"

According to the Daily Mail, Carlson threw cold water on the idea that Putin was behind Navalny's death during a recent interview with BlazeTV founder Glenn Beck.

"Navalny’s death during the Munich Security Conference, in the midst of disputes about aid to Ukraine, is definitely not beneficial for Russia. People who say Putin killed him are idiots," Carlson was quoted as saying.

The Daily Mail said that it approached Carlson for a comment regarding the Russian activist's death after it had been reported last Friday.

"I don't know anything about Navalny. I didn't know that he died. I didn't know anything," Carlson was quoted as saying, after which he is said to have "laughed maniacally."

The paper noted that these words seem to conflict with an earlier comment about Navalny's incarceration on what critics say were trumped-up charges of fraud and extremism.

Joe Biden: "Make no mistake, Putin is responsible"

Carlson told the Daily Mail that he saw Navalny's treatment as being "barbaric and awful," adding, "No decent person would defend it."

Meanwhile, The Guardian reported that Navalny's widow spoke to attendees at the Munich Security Conference and blamed her 47-year-old husband's death on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

NBC News noted that for his part, President Joe Biden laid blame for Navalny's passing on Putin as well, saying, "Make no mistake, Putin is responsible for Navalny's death."

While the president offered no evidence in support of this contention, he told reporters that "there is no doubt that the death of Navalny was the consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did."

Carlson says he "wasn't worried for a single second" during Russia trip

The Daily Mail observed that while speaking with Carlson, Beck brought up his interview with Putin earlier this month.

"Did it ever cross your mind that, 'I'm not in my home country. I'm saying this to a very powerful man who does what he wants?' Were you ever worried?" Beck asked.

"No. I wasn't worried for a single second I was there," Carlson replied. "I wasn't worried going over there, not because I trust the Russian government, I don't, but because my kids are grown, and like, I don't really care at this point. I feel protected. I say my prayers."