Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died on February 16 at the Arctic prison colony where he was serving a 19-year sentence, Russia’s federal correctional service said in a statement.
Russia:
“Navalny felt bad after a walk, almost immediately losing consciousness. Medical staff arrived immediately and an ambulance team was called. Resuscitation measures were carried out which did not yield positive results. Paramedics confirmed the death of the convict. The causes of death are being established,” the statement said as per AFP reports.
According to the Federal Prison Service, Navalny became ill after going on a walk on Friday and passed out.
An ambulance arrived to attempt to rehabilitate him, but he died. Navalny’s team had no immediate confirmation of his death.
President Vladimir Putin was told of the death of his main adversary, jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Friday.
“It has been reported to the president,” Peskov told reporters, adding that it “should be up to the medics to clarify” the cause of death.
The exiled team of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny claimed that it did not get any confirmation of his death and that a lawyer was on his way to the Arctic prison colony, where Russia’s correctional service stated he died earlier.
“We have no confirmation on this yet,” Navalny’s spokesperson Kira Yarmysh wrote on social media, adding that Alexei’s lawyer is on his way to Kharp (the Arctic village where Navalny is imprisoned). As soon as we obtain some information, we will report it.”