Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny found dead in prison

Alexei Navalny

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died on February 16 at the Arctic prison colony where he was serving a 19-year sentence, Russia's federal correctional service said in a statement.

"Navalny felt bad after a walk, almost immediately losing consciousness. Medical staff arrived immediately and an ambulance team was called. Resuscitation measures were carried out which did not yield positive results. Paramedics confirmed the death of the convict. The causes of death are being established," the statement said as per AFP reports.

According to the Federal Prison Service, Navalny became ill after going on a walk on Friday and passed out.

An ambulance arrived to attempt to rehabilitate him, but he died. Navalny's team had no immediate confirmation of his death.

President Vladimir Putin was told of the death of his main adversary, jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Friday.

"It has been reported to the president," Peskov told reporters, adding that it "should be up to the medics to clarify" the cause of death.

Navalny had been in prison since January 2021, when he returned to Moscow after recovering in Germany from nerve agent poisoning, which he alleged on the Kremlin. Prior to his incarceration, he campaigned against official corruption, organised large anti-Kremlin demonstrations, and stood for public office.

He had since earned three prison terms, all of which he contested as politically motivated.

Shortly after Navalny's death was confirmed, the Russian SOTA social media outlet tweeted photographs of the opposition politician in court yesterday. In the video, Navalny is seen rising up, laughing and joking with the court via video hookup.

Dmitry Muratov, a Russian newspaper editor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, told Reuters on Friday that jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny's death was "murder" and that he suspected severe treatment was to blame.

"My sincere belief is that the conditions of Navalny's detention led to his death... His sentence was supplemented by murder," Muratov said, expressing condolences to his family.

(With inputs from agencies.)