Russian opposition figure Navalny is dead
The Yamalo-Nenets Prison, where Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny was serving his sentence, announced the death of the opposition leader.
The Federal Prison Service stated on its website that Navalny "felt unwell" after walking on Friday and "almost immediately lost consciousness."
It was noted that medical personnel were called following the opposition politician's sudden illness, but he could not be revived.
Furthermore, it was announced that efforts are underway to determine the cause of death.
WHO IS ALEXEI NAVALNY?
Alexei Navalny is a Russian opposition politician and lawyer known for his anti-government activities and for leading protests in Russia. Through this, he has garnered a wide following on social media.
He played a significant role in the anti-government protests in Russia in 2011 and 2012. He has published investigations containing allegations of corruption against leading political figures and state companies in Russia.
Due to his open criticism of the Kremlin, Navalny has been detained multiple times, sentenced to prison, and placed under house arrest.
In 2020, it was alleged that he was poisoned during a flight in Siberia and that the Russian government was responsible for the incident.
After receiving treatment in Germany, Navalny was detained immediately upon his return to Russia in early 2021 and was later sentenced to prison.
While Navalny and his supporters view him as a hero in the fight against corruption, the Russian government characterizes Navalny's actions as Western interference in Russia and labels him a "foreign agent."
