Russian Opposition Leader And Putin Critic Alexei Navalny Dies In Custody: Here's What We Know So Far

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has tragically passed away under mysterious circumstances while serving a lengthy prison sentence, igniting global outrage and questions about his treatment in detention.

Navalny, a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was serving a 19-year sentence on what many believe were politically motivated charges of extremism.

His death was announced by Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service on Friday (16 February), stating that Navalny fell ill after a walk and subsequently lost consciousness at the penal colony.

The prison, situated in the harsh conditions of Kharp, in the Yamalo-Nenets region, is known for its severe winters.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin has denied any knowledge of the cause of Navalny’s death, deferring inquiries to the prison service.

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Navalny's incarceration stemmed from an extremism conviction in August last year, adding to his already lengthy detention.

His imprisonment began in January 2021 upon his return to Moscow from Germany, where he received treatment for nerve agent poisoning, which he blamed on the Kremlin.

Within minutes of Navalny's death being announced by the prison service, the international community hailed the courage of Vladimir Putin's biggest domestic adversary.

France said he had paid with his life for resisting Russian "oppression", while Norway's foreign minister said Russian authorities bore a great responsibility for his death.

US President Joe Biden said if the reports were true, then Vladimir Putin was responsible. He said, "What has happened is yet more proof of Putin's brutality."

Who Was Alexei Navalny

Navalny was born on 4 June 1976, to a military family in the town of Butyn, near Moscow. 

Known for his anti-corruption campaigns and vocal criticism of the Kremlin, Navalny emerged as a leading opposition voice, advocating for political reforms in Russia.

His journey involved facing numerous legal battles, including imprisonment and an assassination attempt.

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