Russian opposition chief Alexei Navalny, who for years was President Vladimir Putin’s chief political opponent, died on Friday on the distant jail colony the place he was serving a 19-year sentence, in accordance with Russia’s federal penitentiary service.
Mr Navalny, who was simply 47 years previous, was being held in a jail about 65km north of the Arctic Circle, having been convicted on trumped up fraud and extremism prices, which he characterised as political retribution.
He had beforehand led campaigns towards corruption in Russia, the place Putin’s regime routinely imprisons and, human rights teams allege, kills dissenters.
In 2020, Mr Navalny fell right into a coma, having allegedly been poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent by Russia’s FSB. He was handled in Germany, and after recovering, returned to Russia in early 2021, the place he was promptly arrested.
“Navalny felt dangerous after a stroll, nearly instantly shedding consciousness,” the penitentiary service claimed in a press release on Friday saying his demise.
“Medical employees arrived instantly and an ambulance staff was referred to as. Resuscitation measures have been carried out which didn’t yield optimistic outcomes.
“Paramedics confirmed the demise of the convict. The causes of demise are being established.”
Mr Navalny, who suffered severe well being issues in jail, was reportedly put in solitary confinement once more earlier than his demise, in accordance with the Human Rights Basis.
Putin’s primary enemy went lacking throughout his stint in a special Russian gulag final 12 months, main his supporters to warn he may very well be executed.
On the time, the top of his FBK celebration, Maria Pevchikh, mentioned she was “apprehensive for his life”.
“He’s within the fingers of the exact same individuals who tried to kill him earlier than,” she mentioned.
“In the event that they as soon as acquired an authorisation to homicide Navalny, have they got one other one now, or is the final one nonetheless legitimate? Navalny’s life is continually at a excessive danger.”
Extra to come back.
