Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, a 47-year-old former lawyer, died after collapsing at the “Polar Wolf” Arctic penal colony where he was serving a long jail term. Navalny gained prominence over a decade ago with blogs pointing out the corruption and opulence among Russia’s elite. His death occurred after falling ill during a walk at the IK-3 penal colony in Kharp, which is about 1,900 km (1,200 miles) northeast of Moscow. The prison service stated that Navalny lost consciousness almost immediately after feeling unwell, and despite resuscitation efforts, he did not recover.
The Kremlin confirmed that President Vladimir Putin was informed about Navalny’s death, while Western officials admired his courage and accused the Kremlin of foul play. Despite his supporters’ doubts and pleas for confirmation, the news of Navalny’s death began to spread. His lawyer was en route to the prison, and Russian state television diverted attention to a press conference as the news broke.
International leaders praised Navalny’s bravery and advocacy for freedom, while the Kremlin had dismissed his corruption claims and cast him as an extremist. They even accused him of being a U.S. CIA puppet intent on sowing the seeds of revolution in Russia. Despite imprisonment and various obstacles, Navalny remained a vocal critic of Putin’s government. In 2020, Navalny was treated in Germany for what Western laboratory tests confirmed was an attempt to poison him with a nerve agent, which the Kremlin denied and questioned the evidence.
Despite this danger, Navalny refused to be afraid. His last post on Telegram was a heartfelt Valentine’s Day message to his wife, Yulia. His sudden death sparked outrage in Russia and condemnation from the rest of the world, focusing renewed international attention on his cause.