Navalny dies in Russian prison at age 47, officials say

Alexei Navalny, the leader of Russia’s opposition to President Vladimir Putin, died in prison on Friday at the age of 47, officials said.

Russia’s Federal Prison Service said Navalny felt unwell after the walk and lost consciousness. An ambulance arrived and crews tried to rehabilitate him but were unsuccessful.

Navalny is serving a 19-year sentence for extremism and was transferred from another prison to the country’s highest-security facility near the Arctic Circle in December. The “special regime” penal colony in the town of Harup, about 1,200 miles northeast of Moscow, is in a remote area known for its harsh winters.

His spokesperson Kira Yarmis said: said in XOn the platform formerly known as Twitter, she said her team had not confirmed his death. Navalny’s lawyer said he was on his way to prison, adding that he would share further information as soon as possible.

He has been imprisoned since January 2021, when he returned to Russia after recovering from a poisoning he blamed on President Vladimir Putin. President Putin has denied trying to kill Navalny with a nerve agent.

While running for public office, Navalny rose to prominence by campaigning against official corruption and organizing anti-Kremlin protests.

He condemned his sentences and said they were politically motivated.

According to ReutersPresident Putin was informed of Navalny’s death.

–The Associated Press contributed to this development report