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Russian opposition chief Alexei Navalny, who for years was President Vladimir Putin’s chief political opponent, died on Friday on the distant jail colony the place he was serving a 19-year sentence, in line with Russia’s federal penitentiary service.
Mr Navalny, who was simply 47 years outdated, was being held in a jail about 65km north of the Arctic Circle, having been convicted on trumped up fraud and extremism prices, which he characterised as political retribution.
He had beforehand led campaigns in opposition to corruption in Russia, the place Putin’s regime routinely imprisons and, human rights teams allege, kills dissenters.
In 2020, Mr Navalny fell right into a coma, having allegedly been poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent by Russia’s FSB. He was handled in Germany, and after recovering, returned to Russia in early 2021, the place he was promptly arrested.
“Navalny felt unhealthy after a stroll, nearly instantly shedding consciousness,” the penitentiary service claimed in an announcement on Friday saying his loss of life.
“Medical employees arrived instantly and an ambulance staff was referred to as. Resuscitation measures had been carried out which didn’t yield optimistic outcomes.
“Paramedics confirmed the loss of life of the convict. The causes of loss of life are being established.”
Mr Navalny, who suffered severe well being issues in jail, was reportedly put in solitary confinement once more earlier than his loss of life, in line with the Human Rights Basis.
Putin’s primary enemy went lacking throughout his stint in a distinct Russian gulag final 12 months, main his supporters to warn he might be executed.
On the time, the pinnacle of his FBK celebration, Maria Pevchikh, stated she was “nervous for his life”.
“He’s within the fingers of the exact same individuals who tried to kill him earlier than,” she stated.
“In the event that they as soon as received an authorisation to homicide Navalny, have they got one other one now, or is the final one nonetheless legitimate? Navalny’s life is consistently at a excessive danger.”
Extra to return.
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