Russian President Vladimir Putin’s critic and jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny died on Friday, said the prison authority where he had been serving his sentence. Reports suggest that Navalny felt sick during a walk, fainted and died inside the prison premises.
The sudden death of Navalny has raised questions as many people are sharing a video on social media which allegedly shows Navalny appearing in a court hearing via video link on February 15. Reports suggest that Navalny looks fit and healthy during the court appearance.
Watch the video here:
Who Was Alexei Navalny?
One of Putin's most prominent and steadfast opponents, 47-year-old Navalny, was being imprisoned in a prison around 40 miles north of the Arctic Circle, where he was given a 19-year term under a "special regime."
Alexei Anatolievich Navalny was a Russian opposition leader, lawyer, anti-corruption activist and political prisoner.
Leader of the Russia of the Future party and founder of the Anti-Corruption Foundation, Navalny organised anti-government demonstrations and ran for office to advocate reforms against corruption in Russia, and against President Vladimir Putin and his government. Navalny was also a member of the Russian Opposition Coordination Council member.
Awarded the Sakharov Prize for his work on human rights
He was recognised by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience and was awarded the Sakharov Prize for his work on human rights.
Navalny and his team, through his various social media channels, have published material about corruption in Russia, organised political demonstrations and promoted his campaigns.
Campaign against election fraud, government corruption
Navalny investigated Putin's inner circle, campaigned against election fraud and government corruption, and shared the results in stylish videos that received hundreds of millions of views, all of which contributed to the 2011–12 Russian demonstrations.
Attack on Navalny by Russia's FSB security force
After being accused of being poisoned with Novichok by Russia's FSB security force in 2020, Navalny went into a coma and was flown to Germany for medical attention. After making a full recovery, he went back to Russia in January 2021, when he was detained on suspicion of violating his parole and given the first of several prison sentences that resulted in more than 30 years in prison.
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