In a shocking announcement made on Friday, Russia's Federal Prison Service declared the death of Alexei Navalny, a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin and a leading figure in the opposition.
Navalny, aged 47, reportedly fell ill after a walk and subsequently lost consciousness, as reported by The Associated Press. Despite the arrival of an ambulance and attempts to resuscitate him, Navalny did not survive.
However, Navalny's spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, expressed uncertainty regarding the news in a post on X, stating, "we have no confirmation of this yet." She further added, "Alexei's lawyer is currently on his way to Kharp. As soon as we have some information, we will report on it."
Navalny was detained at the IK-3 penal colony, colloquially known as "Polar Wolf," situated in Kharp in northern Russia. This prison is reputed to be one of the harshest in the country. Prior to this, Navalny was held at a facility approximately 145 miles east of Moscow. His team lost contact with him after he failed to appear for a court hearing via video link on December 5, leading to a frantic search until he was located in Kharp around Christmas.
Reacting to the news, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Friday that Navalny's "death in a Russian prison and the fixation and fear of one man only underscores the weakness and rot at the heart of the system that Putin has built." He further added, "Russia is responsible for this," and mentioned that discussions would be held with other countries concerned about Navalny's fate, especially if the reports of his death are confirmed.
President Biden, in 2021, had warned Putin during a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, about the severe consequences Russia would face if Navalny died in their custody. "I made it clear to him that I believe the consequences of that would be devastating for Russia," Biden had said.
Navalny, a vocal critic of the Russian government, had previously organized protests against the government and had run for office to advocate for reforms against what he alleges is rampant corruption in Russia. In 2020, he was the target of a suspected assassination attempt when he was poisoned with a suspected Novichok nerve agent. After spending several weeks in a coma while doctors in Germany fought to save his life, Navalny accused Putin of orchestrating his poisoning.
Upon his return to Russia in 2021, Navalny was immediately arrested and later sentenced to 19 years in prison on charges of extremism. His team has consistently raised concerns about his treatment following his return, and Navalny has claimed that the charges were politically motivated.
The remote region where Navalny was detained is infamous for its harsh and long winters. Kharp is located about 60 miles from Vorkuta, a location known for its coal mines that were part of the Soviet gulag prison-camp system.
Interestingly, Putin has consistently refrained from mentioning Navalny by name, referring to him as "that person" or similar terms, in an apparent attempt to downplay his significance, according to The Associated Press.
In a related incident last August, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Russia's Wagner Group who opposed Putin's rule, was killed in a plane crash outside of Moscow. The White House then seemed to formally acknowledge that the government believes Prigozhin was assassinated by Putin.
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