Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny has died. This was reported by the local administration of Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN).
According to the FSIN’s statement, Navalny “felt unwell after a walk and almost immediately lost consciousness.” The statement also said that “all necessary resuscitation measures were carried out, which did not yield positive results. Emergency medical personnel confirmed the death of the convict. The cause of death is being established.”
As of late Friday night, Navalny’s family and close associates were still awaiting independent confirmation of his death. His wife, Yulia, said publicly that she was unsure whether to believe information being reported by Russian state media. “If it is true,” she said, “I want Putin and all of his staff to know that they will be punished for what they have done.”
Navalny’s lawyer is scheduled to arrive at the prison where Navalny died on Saturday morning.
Sources told Russian state propaganda network RT that Navalny died from a detached blood clot. Several doctors and human rights activists told Meduza that a detached blood clot is a standard diagnosis for prisoners. It cannot be confirmed without an independent autopsy.
Navalny supporters have turned out in cities across Russia and around the world to commemorate the life of the opposition figure. As of publication, over 100 people in Russia have been arrested, many while laying flowers at various memorials to Soviet political prisoners.
Navalny was being held in Correctional Facility No. 3 in Russia’s Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.
The politician was 47 years old.
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