Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny dies in prison
Alexei Navalny cannot run for office while imprisoned. Photo: Shamil Zhumatov/file photo
Alexei Navalny (Antonina Favorskaya/AP)
Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is dead, the prison service of the Yamalo-Nenets region where he had been serving his sentence said on Friday.
In a statement published on its website, the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District said that Navalny "felt unwell" after a walk on Friday, and "almost immediately lost consciousness".
It said that medical staff had been called, but that they were unable to resuscitate Navalny. It said the reason of death was being established.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Russia's penitentiary service was making all checks regarding the death of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, but that he had no information about the matter.
Alexei Navalny (Antonina Favorskaya/AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been told of the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, state news agency TASS reported on Friday.
The press secretary of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said on the X social media platform on Friday that she was unable to confirm his death, which was reported by the country's prison service earlier.
Kira Yarmysh said that Navalny's lawyer was travelling to the site of the prison where he had been serving his sentence.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics said on X on Friday that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was "brutally murdered by the Kremlin".
"Whatever your thoughts about Alexei Navalny as the politician, he was just brutally murdered by the Kremlin. That's a fact and that is something one should know about the true nature of Russia's current regime. My condolences to the family and friends," he wrote.
Today's News in 90 Seconds - February 16th
Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has paid with his life for his 'resistance to a system of oppression', French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said on Friday in comments on the death of the famous Russian political activist.
The prison service of the Yamalo-Nenets region earlier confirmed Navalny's death.
"His death in a penal colony reminds us of the reality of Vladimir Putin's regime", said Sejourne.
Russia's Investigative Committee has launched a procedural probe into the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a penal colony, the Investigative Committee said.
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