Vladimir Putin’s staunchest critic Alexei Navalny dies in Russian prison
The federal prison service stated today that Alexei Navalny, the highest-profile critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died in a Russian prison. According to reports, Navalny felt unwell after a walk on Friday and subsequently lost consciousness. An ambulance was called to assist him, but he was unable to be revived.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin was informed of Navalny’s death and that the prison service is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Navalny’s spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, expressed uncertainty about his death, stating on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) that his team had not received any official confirmation and that his lawyer was en route to the prison where he was held.
The prominent opposition figure had been serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism since January 2021. Navalny was moved to a special regime penal colony in December, located in the remote town of Kharp in the Yamalo-Nenets region, over 1,200 miles northeast of Moscow. The transfer was widely criticized by his allies as an attempt to silence him further.
Kharp, known for enduring harsh winters, sits close to Vorkuta, a city with a dark history as part of the Soviet gulag prison-camp system.
Navalny rose to prominence as an anti-corruption campaigner, organizing large-scale protests against the Kremlin and running for public office. His arrest came shortly after he returned to Moscow, having received treatment in Germany for nerve agent poisoning, which he attributed to the Russian government.
Throughout his career, Navalny faced numerous politically motivated charges and convictions. In 2013, he was convicted of embezzlement, but the prosecutor’s office surprisingly demanded his release pending appeal. He later received a suspended sentence from a higher court. Navalny’s release coincided with his registration as a candidate for Moscow mayor, a move seen by many as an attempt to add legitimacy to the upcoming election.
Despite facing significant challenges, Navalny managed to secure a second-place finish in the mayoral race, a notable achievement considering the powerful incumbent’s backing by Putin’s political machinery.
Navalny’s popularity surged after the assassination of charismatic politician Boris Nemtsov in 2015, who was shot and killed near the Kremlin.
Putin consistently downplayed Navalny’s influence, refusing to mention him by name and instead referring to him as that person, presumably in an effort to diminish his significance.
The death of Alexei Navalny in a Russian prison has sent shockwaves through the nation and the international community. As details continue to emerge, questions surrounding the circumstances leading to his untimely demise are likely to intensify.
