He never represented any real hope for regime change. He was just a useful figurehead to attract sympathies from the west, but he never posed any threat to Put

He never represented any real hope for regime change. He was just a useful figurehead to attract sympathies from the west, but he never posed any threat to Putin and even if he somehow got into power he would do nothing to change Russia for the better. He died (was killed) because he no longer served a purpose for Putin.