Alexei Navalny, Putin's nemesis, dies in Siberian prison at 47.

He dreamed of the "wonderful Russia of tomorrow" and dies ahead of the March rigged re-election of Vladimir Putin.

On this day in Russia, the country is stunned in grief, and worldwide, accusations pour in that the death of Alexei Navalny—who for decades, was the principal leader of the opposition in Russia against Vladimir Putin’s corruption and tyranny—was murdered.

Lyudmila Navalnaya, Navalny’s mother has said her son was “alive, healthy and happy” when she last saw him on Monday. In Novaya Gazeta, the independent Russian newspaper published in Latvia since the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Navalnya wrote:

I don’t want to hear any condolences. We saw him in prison on the 12th, in a meeting. He was alive, healthy and happy.

Her implication was clear: After seeing to it that Navalny was sentenced to 30 years, six months for “creating an extremist organization” Putin finally killed him.

It wasn’t Putin’s first attempt on Navalny’s life. In late 2020, the BBC reported:

In August Mr Navalny - a staunch critic of President Vladimir Putin - was poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok. He has accused Mr Putin of ordering the attack, something the Kremlin denies. Investigative journalists at Bellingcat and Russian news site The Insider have now published a report implicating FSB [Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation] agents in the incident. According to the investigation - compiled with the help of US broadcaster CNN and German paper Der Spiegel - a group of operatives from the Russian state intelligence organisation tailed Mr Navalny for three years. It identifies three men who travelled with the opposition figure to Tomsk, where he was eventually poisoned, and also reveals phone and travel data that "strongly suggests the August poisoning attempt on Navalny's life was mandated at the highest echelons of the Kremlin".

Navalny, though made extremely ill by the poisoning, survived, only to be tried on charges of “extremism” upon returning to Russia in 2021. Earlier, in 2014, Navalny had been charged with embezzlement—which he vociferously denied as a charge trumped up by Putin to prevent his running against him for the presidency. Navalny was convicted but given a suspended sentence of 2-1/2 years. Upon his return in 2021 after his poisoning, the sentence was reinstated—and upon conviction of the extremism charges, the courts tacked on another 19 years. Combined with other sentences, it meant that Navalny would spend 30 years in prison. He did not expect to be released during Putin’s lifetime. Amnesty International called for his immediate release.

Now, after being stuffed in tiny cells on the flimsiest accusations of “conduct violations” and after being repeatedly denied medical treatment in prison, Navalny is dead at age. 47. And of course, there’s the almost gleeful forewarning of Putin himself:

In an interview with NBC News in 2021, Putin said he could not guarantee that Navalny would get out of prison alive.

And he did not. And the world stands in condemnation of the fact. Early comments this morning include:

Fmr. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul: Putin killed Navalny, let's be crystal clear about that.

V. P. Kamala Harris noted that if Navalny’s death is confirmed, it constitutes:

a further sign of Putin’s brutality.

Russian newspaper editor and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dmitry Muratov:

Speaking to Reuters, Muratov called the death "murder" and said that he believed prison conditions had led to Navalny's demise.

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, speaking in Munich:

"First and foremost, if these reports are accurate, our hearts go out to his wife and his family. Beyond that, his death in a Russian prison and the fixation and fear of one man only underscores the weakness and rot at the heart of the system that Putin has built. Russia is responsible for this.

"We'll be talking to the many other countries concerned about Alexei Navalny, especially if these reports bear out to be true."

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan:

"If it's confirmed, it is a terrible tragedy. And given the Russian government's long and sordid history of doing harm to its opponents, it raises real and obvious questions about what happened here."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz:

"I met Navalny here in Berlin when he was trying to recover in Germany from the poisoning attack and also talked to him about the great courage it takes to return to his country. And he has probably now paid for this courage with his life."

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner:

"Alexey Navalny fought for a democratic Russia. For that, Putin tortured him to death."

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock:

"Like no one else, Alexei Navalny was a symbol for a free and democratic Russia. That is precisely the reason he had to die."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy:

"It is obvious: he was killed by Putin, as thousands of others were tortured and martyred by this one ‘creature’. Putin does not care who dies as long as he keeps his position. And that is why he should not keep anything. Putin should lose everything and answer for what he has done."

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak:

"This is terrible news. As the fiercest advocate for Russian democracy, Alexei Navalny demonstrated incredible courage throughout his life."

British Foreign Minister David Cameron:

"We should hold Putin accountable for this."

French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne:

"Alexei Navalny paid with his life for his resistance to a system of oppression. His death in a penal colony reminds us of the reality of Vladimir Putin's regime."

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson:

"Dreadful news about Alexei Navalny. My thoughts are with his family and friends. The Russian authorities, and President Putin personally, are responsible for Alexei Navalny no longer being alive."

EU Council President Charles Michel:

"Alexei Navalny fought for the values of freedom and democracy. For his ideals, he made the ultimate sacrifice. The EU holds the Russian regime solely responsible for this tragic death."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen:

"Deeply disturbed and saddened by news of the death of Alexei Navalny. Putin fears nothing more than dissent from his own people. A grim reminder of what Putin and his regime are all about. Let's unite in our fight to safeguard the freedom and safety of those who dare to stand up against autocracy."

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg

Said he was "deeply saddened and disturbed" by the reports of Navalny's death. "We need to establish all the facts, and Russia needs to answer all the serious questions about the circumstances of his death."

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte:

Navalny's death "illustrates the unprecedented brutality of the Russian regime. Navalny fought for democratic values and against corruption. He had to pay for his struggle with death while he was held under the harshest and most inhumane conditions. I wish his family, loved ones and everyone who fought with him for change in Russia much strength."

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo:

"His tragic death again underscores why we will continue to support Ukraine. Russia will not prevail in Ukraine. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Navalny and all brave Russian political prisoners."

Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics:

"Whatever your thoughts about Alexei Navalny as the politician, he was just brutally murdered by the Kremlin. That's a fact and that is something one should know about the true nature of Russia's current regime. My condolences to the family and friends."

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky:

"It’s still the case that just as Russia treats its foreign policy, it treats its citizens. It has turned into a violent state that kills people who dream of a better future, like Nemtsov or now Navalny - imprisoned and tortured to death for standing up to Putin. Rest in peace."

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