Alexei Navalny, a prominent opposition leader in Russia for the past decade, has died in a jail located in the Arctic Circle, as confirmed by the Russian prison service.
Navalny, who was widely known as the most vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin, was serving a 19-year sentence on extremism charges, which many believed to be politically motivated.
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His death has sparked outrage and condemnation from the international community, with US President Joe Biden squarely placing the blame on Putin, stating, “What has happened is yet more proof of Putin’s brutality.”
Navalny’s wife, Yulia, has urged the international community to hold the Russian regime accountable for his death.
Navalny’s allies have also expressed suspicions about the circumstances of his death, with some suggesting foul play. The prison authorities reported that Navalny fell unconscious after feeling unwell following a walk on Friday. Despite efforts to resuscitate him, Navalny was pronounced dead.
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Navalny’s journey as a political figure has been fraught with challenges and danger. He survived a poisoning attack with a Novichok nerve agent in August 2020, following which he was immediately taken into custody upon his return to Moscow.
Navalny’s imprisonment and subsequent death mark a significant blow to Russia’s opposition movement, leaving Putin largely unchallenged by any meaningful opposition in the upcoming presidential election.
