Leading Russian Opposition leader dies in prison

New Delhi, Feb 16: Alexei Navalny, a prominent figure in Russia’s opposition movement and a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has died at the age of 47 while in custody, as announced by the prison service in the Yamalo-Nenets region where Navalny was serving his sentence.

His death in prison is perceived by European leaders as a politically motivated assassination linked to Putin.

According to a report from the BBC, the prison service in the Yamalo-Nenets district issued a statement revealing that Navalny had become “unwell” after a walk on Friday. The statement indicated that he “almost immediately lost consciousness,” prompting an emergency medical team to be urgently called.

Despite their efforts to revive him, Navalny could not be resuscitated. The statement concluded by confirming that Navalny was pronounced dead by the emergency doctors, with investigations underway to determine the cause of death.

The demise of Alexei Navalny, a prominent figure in Russia’s opposition movement and a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, has been criticised, both domestically and internationally since his imprisonment. The circumstances surrounding Navalny’s death are shrouded in suspicion.

Navalny’s imprisonment, beginning in 2021 and subsequent transfer to an arctic penal colony in Siberia, was widely condemned as politically motivated.

Initially sentenced to three-and-a-half years for violating the terms of a suspended sentence, Navalny faced additional charges, including embezzlement, which culminated in a nine-year sentence in a strict regime penal colony.

Despite his persistent denial of the allegations, Navalny found himself entangled in legal battles that extended his imprisonment to 19 years.

Navalny’s political activism has long posed a challenge to Putin’s authority. His role in organizing protests, highlighting election fraud and corruption, coupled with his investigation, targeting Putin’s inner circle, earned him both acclaim and ire within Russia.

In 2013, Navalny secured 27% of the vote in Moscow’s mayoral election, which was widely scrutinised for its fairness.

Navalny’s efforts to expose corruption among high-ranking officials have faced significant obstacles. His campaign faced a major setback in 2020 when he was hospitalised in a coma due to a suspected novichok poisoning by the FSB security service, after which he was treated in Germany.

Upon returning to Russia in January 2021, Navalny was detained for parole violations, leading to multiple prison sentences totalling over 30 years.

His death comes as Putin embarks on a campaign for a fifth presidential term, having already become the longest-serving Russian leader since Joseph Stalin. Putin’s potential continuation in office until 2030 is facilitated by recent constitutional amendments allowing him to bypass previous term limits.

Some Global Reactions

European Council President Charles Michel has squarely placed the blame on the Russian regime for the “tragic death” of Alexei Navalny, emphasizing the EU’s view that they bear sole responsibility. Michel hailed Navalny’s commitment to freedom and democracy, portraying his passing as the “ultimate sacrifice” for these principles. Expressing condolences to Navalny’s family, Michel also praised the unwavering determination of democracy advocates worldwide, asserting that despite setbacks, the fight for freedom continues undeterred.

French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné echoed Michel’s sentiments, stating in a post on [X] that Navalny “paid with his life” for his steadfast opposition to Putin’s regime.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg expressed sadness and concern over reports from Russia.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described Navalny’s death as “terrible news,” praising his courage throughout his life.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz acknowledged Navalny’s courage and lamented that he paid for it with his life.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky called on the world to honour Navalny’s memory, highlighting his imprisonment and alleged torture for standing up to Putin.

Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins expressed deep distress over Navalny’s death, placing full blame on Putin’s regime.