Russia's most significant opposition leader and President Vladimir Putin's critic, Alexei Navalny, has died at the age of 47 in an Arctic Circle jail. Navalny collapsed and died on Friday, February 16, after a walk at the "Polar Wolf" Arctic penal colony where he was serving a three-decade jail term.
The Russian prison service reported that Navalny had "felt unwell" after the walk and "almost immediately lost consciousness." Despite efforts by an emergency medical team to resuscitate him, they were unsuccessful. The cause of death is being established.
Navalny, a prominent critic of Putin, was last seen via video link during a court hearing on Thursday. His mother, Lyudmila, had seen him in the prison colony just days before and described him as "alive, healthy, and cheerful."
Navalny's death has sparked international reactions, with his wife, Yulia Navalnaya, calling for Putin and his regime to be held responsible for their actions. The White House described Navalny's death as a "terrible tragedy," and Vice President Kamala Harris said it would be a further sign of Putin's brutality.
Navalny's death comes after a series of events that targeted him, including an assassination attempt with a nerve agent in August 2020. He survived the poisoning but had been in prison since his return to Russia.
Navalny's death has raised questions about the Russian government's treatment of its critics and the state of democracy in the country. His supporters are calling for justice and accountability for those responsible for his death.
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