Russia‘s prominent opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, has collapsed and died at the “Polar Wolf” Arctic penal colony, where he was serving a long jail term, according to the Russian prison service. Navalny, known for exposing corruption among Russia’s elite, felt unwell after a walk at the IK-3 penal colony in Kharp, approximately 1,900 km northeast of Moscow, into the Arctic Circle. The prison service reported that resuscitation measures were unsuccessful, and the causes of death are under investigation.
The Kremlin stated that President Vladimir Putin was informed about Navalny’s death, triggering a wave of condemnation from the West. Navalny’s supporters expressed scepticism about the official account, with some suggesting foul play. French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne asserted, “His death in a penal colony reminds us of the reality of Vladimir Putin’s regime.”
Navalny, who returned to Russia in 2021 after being treated in Germany for poisoning, was serving sentences totalling more than 30 years. The circumstances surrounding his death have led to accusations of murder, with his lawyer en route to the prison in Kharp. Russian state television showed a press conference by the central bank chief as the news broke.
Navalny’s spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, stated she had no confirmation of his death. Russian newspaper editor Dmitry Muratov, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, expressed the belief that the conditions of detention led to Navalny’s demise, adding, “His sentence was supplemented by murder.”
Navalny’s death has sparked international condemnation, with Western officials paying tribute to his courage as a fighter for freedom. Despite facing accusations from Russian authorities, Navalny’s movement and most of his senior allies had been outlawed, and they currently reside in Europe. Navalny’s voluntary return to Russia after the poisoning attempt underscored his commitment to challenging Putin’s regime, predicting political turmoil and criticizing the system of personal rule in Russia.
