Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who exposed the corruption and crimes of President Vladimir Putin and his allies, has died in prison under suspicious circumstances.
Navalny, 47, was the most prominent and famous critic of Putin, who has ruled Russia for over two decades. Navalny challenged Putin in the 2018 presidential election and organized mass protests against his regime.
He also published investigations on YouTube and his website, revealing the lavish lifestyles, offshore accounts, and illicit deals of Putin and his cronies. He called Putin a “madman” and his ruling party “crooks and thieves”.
Navalny speaking with journalists in Moscow in December 2011 (Picture: Reuters)
Navalny survived an assassination attempt in August 2020, when he was poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok, allegedly by Russian agents. Despite the risks, he was flown to Germany for treatment and recovery but returned to Russia in January 2021.
He was arrested upon arrival and sentenced to 19 years in prison on trumped-up charges of extremism, embezzlement, and other crimes. He was transferred to a high-security penal colony in December, where he faced harsh conditions and torture.
Yesterday Navalny looked to be fine during a court hearing where he spoke via video link from his penal colony pic.twitter.com/e8HoAnWsQB
— Francis Scarr (@francis_scarr) February 16, 2024
According to the Federal Prison Service, Navalny died on Friday after feeling unwell and losing consciousness during a walk. They claimed he had a “detached blood clot” but did not provide any evidence or details. His supporters and family were not allowed to see him or his body.
The world has lost a fighter whose courage will echo through generations.
— Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) February 16, 2024
Horrified by the death of Sakharov Prize laureate Alexei Navalny.
Russia took his freedom & his life, but not his dignity.
His struggle for democracy lives on.
Our thoughts are with his wife & children. pic.twitter.com/JMSAkLpb0T
Many world leaders and human rights activists condemned Navalny’s death as a political murder orchestrated by the Kremlin. They demanded an independent investigation and accountability for those responsible.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, said it was “obvious” that Putin ordered Navalny’s killing and that he “does not care who dies”. Edgars Rinkēvičs, the president of Latvia, said Navalny was “brutally murdered” by the Kremlin and that his death revealed the “true nature of Russia’s current regime”.
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former Russian oligarch and dissident who lives in exile, said: “If it is true, then Putin is personally responsible for his death.” Rishi Sunak, the British prime minister, praised Navalny as “the fiercest advocate for Russian democracy, who demonstrated incredible courage throughout his life”. He added: “My thoughts are with his wife and the people of Russia, for whom this is a huge tragedy.”
Gitanas Nauseda, the president of Lithuania, posted on X that Russian authorities must face consequences and “be brought to justice” over Navalny’s death. He also called for international solidarity and support for the Russian people who seek freedom and democracy.
