LBC
Putin critics have blamed the Russian president for the death of Alexei Navalny, after the opposition leader collapsed and died in prison.
Navalny died on Friday after “going for a walk” in his prison colony, in the Arctic Yamalo-Nenets region of Russia.
His cause of death has not been confirmed, but Russian outlets reported that he suffered a detached blood clot.
Navalny, who has long criticised Putin and campaigned against him, had suffered a series of attacks on his health in recent years.
He was poisoned with Novichok in 2020, and went to Germany for urgent treatment.
On his return to Russia in 2021, he was jailed for violating parole conditions for a 2014 prison sentence, which was widely condemned as a political charge.
He claimed he was being tortured in prison, and his staff said he had been placed in isolation 27 times over a total of 308 days – the latest instance of which was on Wednesday.
Putin has been informed of Navalny’s death, a Kremlin spokesperson said – but Putin critics and Western politicians blamed Putin for his death.
Navalny’s wife Yulia Navalnaya said: “I don’t know whether I should believe this horrible news or not.”
She added: “We cant really believe Putin and his government.”
Navalnaya said that if the news is true, Putin and his government should be held responsible, as well as for everything “they are doing to Russia”.
“I am asking everyone who is here to unite and help punish the Russian regime,” Navalnaya said.
His mother Lyudmila said her son was “alive, healthy and happy” when she last saw him on Sunday.”I don’t want to hear any condolences,” she added.
Outspoken Kremlin critic Bill Browder told LBC: “Alexei Navalny was one of the most courageous people in Russia.
“He was ready to call out Putin for who he is which is A criminal, a thief and a murderer.
“For that Putin tried to kill him with chemical nerve agent Novichok in 2020. Here we are in 2024 and they got him.
“He was an extremely healthy vital young man before the poisoning attempt. It’s obvious to me that Alexei Navalny was killed by Putin.”
Mr Browder said later: “Let’s make no mistake, Putin assassinated Alexei Navalny. He did so because Alexei Navalny was brave enough to stand up to Putin.
“He did so because Navalny offered the Russian people an alternative to kleptocracy and repression. This is a tragic day for Navalny and his family, but also for Russia and the hope for a better future.”
