Russian Opposition Leader Alexey Navalny Dies in Jail, Authorities Say

MOSCOW — Alexey Navalny, the prominent Russian opposition figure, has died in jail, according to local authorities. The 47-year-old activist, who was serving a sentence in a correctional facility on charges including embezzlement, reportedly lost consciousness during a walk.

In a statement released on Friday, the Federal Penal Service in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region stated that Navalny fell ill shortly after going for a walk, immediately losing consciousness. Despite prompt medical intervention, including resuscitation efforts, Navalny did not regain consciousness, and paramedics confirmed his death.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the exact cause of Navalny’s death. While details remain unclear, a source from the RT Russian service indicated that Navalny may have suffered from a blood clot.

The Kremlin has confirmed that President Vladimir Putin has been informed of Navalny’s death. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for Putin, referred inquiries about the cause of death to the Federal Penitentiary Service, highlighting the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the circumstances.

Navalny’s lawyer, Leonid Solovyov, declined to comment but emphasized that his client appeared to be in good health during their last meeting on Wednesday.

Navalny, a prominent critic of the Russian government, had been jailed in 2021 in connection with a longstanding fraud case. His case gained international attention after he was allegedly poisoned in Siberia the previous summer, leading to his evacuation to Germany for medical treatment.

The death of Alexey Navalny is expected to further fuel tensions within Russia’s political landscape and draw renewed scrutiny from the international community.