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Russian spies visited Alexei Navalny’s prison two days before the opposition leader and arch-Kremlin critic died, campaigners have said.
The Gulagu.net website, set up by human rights activist Vladimir Osechkin, said several officers from the FSB - Russia’s intelligence service – disconnected security cameras and listening devices on their visit to the Polar Wolf Arctic prison.
The website, which counts political prisoners among its network of contacts, added that the visit was mentioned in a report by the local branch of the Federal Penitentiary Service.
Earlier, Mr Navalny’s team accused authorities of deliberately hiding his body “cover traces” of what they claim is a clear act of murder.
Mr Navalny, a 47-year-old former lawyer, fell unconscious and died on Friday after a walk at the “Polar Wolf” Arctic penal colony in Kharp, about 1,200 miles northeast of Moscow, where he was serving a three-decade sentence, Russian authorities said.
“They are trying to cover traces, this is why they are not giving the body to his family and this is why they are just hiding him from them,” Kira Yarmysh, Mr Navalny’s spokesperson, told the BBC.
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“We know for sure that it wasn’t just a death, it was a murder.”
Recommended How Alexei Navalny’s death could backfire for Putin Navalny spent a decade with Putin’s target on his back – he knew this was how it would end Alexei Navalny wife’s message to Putin after Russian opposition leader dies in prison
Key Points Russian spies ‘visited Navalny’s prison’ days before his death Over 400 people detained in Russia at events in memory of Navalny Biden blames Putin for Navalny death Yulia Navalny calls on world to punish Putin Navalny lost consciousness after feeling sick, say jail chiefs UK minister accuses Putin of murder It’s obvious Putin killed Navalny, says Ukrainian president US should await forensic results before accusations, says Russia
Show latest update 28 minutes ago There could be fresh sanctions against Russia, signals Cameron
David Cameron has signalled that there could be fresh sanctions against Russian officials, following the death of Alexei Navalny.
The foreign secretary joined other G7 ministers at the Munich Security Conference in calling on Russia to "fully clarify" how the jailed opposition leader died, amid pressure on Western leaders to respond.
Lord Cameron used the German gathering to repeat the UK's call for countries to seize Russian central bank assets currently held in the West as one way of financing the reconstruction of Ukraine, The Times reported.
It comes as the second anniversary of the Russian invasion approaches, marked by confirmation that Vladimir Putin's forces have taken complete control of the frontline city of Avdiivka.
PA
Stuti Mishra 18 February 2024 06:30
58 minutes ago Director of Navalny documentary ‘delighted’ wife Yulia addressed world leaders
Director of Navalny documentary ‘delighted’ wife Yulia addressed world leaders
The director of the Oscar-winning Navalny documentary has said he is “delighted and not surprised” by Alexei Navalny’s wife addressing world leaders in Germany hours after her husband’s death was reported.
Canadian Daniel Roher became close to the Navalny family when he interviewed them before the Russian opposition leader was sent to prison in 2021, and has continued to stay in touch with them.
The documentary filmmaker told the PA news agency: “The strength of Yulia Navalnaya (has) been well documented, we see it in her poise (and) grace, the sort of first lady in waiting status way that she facilitates herself.
“I was delighted and not surprised when I saw her… take that podium, for a very commanding two-minute address, where for a brief moment, she got to be the moral centre of the universe.
“I don’t know how the political structure of the organisation and Yulia will change in the next couple of weeks and months, but I know that the family is passionate and activated and now perhaps vengeful.”
He also said he has no “reason to be surprised” at the death of the Navalny, but he was “shocked” at hearing the news. “Anyone who follows the Navalny story or has seen the documentary for that matter knows how ever present this possibility lingered but in spite of that, I registered this as shock,” Mr Roher added.
Yulia Navalny addressed Munich Security Conference
(EPA)
Matt Mathers 18 February 2024 06:00
1 hour ago Despite missiles, 'flowers keep appearing' across both Russian and Ukrainian cities under Moscow's control
People are not just gathering in big cities like Moscow and St Petersburg, but smaller towns across Russia and occupied Ukrainian towns are also seeing flowers laid down in memory of Alexei Navalny.
From the border city of Belgorod, where seven were killed in a Ukrainian missile strike on Thursday, to Vorkuta, an Arctic mining outpost once a centre of the Stalin-era gulag labour camps, memorials were held, OVD-Info reported.
In Luhansk, a Ukrainian territory now under Russian control, residents laid flowers in Navalny's honour at a monument commemorating the victims of the Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin, online news outlet SOTA reported.
In another city, flowers were laid at a monument to the heroes of the early 20th-century Russian Revolution.
"Despite the authorities' attempts to remove the flowers, they keep appearing," SOTA reported.
Police officers stand guard next to flowers left for late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny at the Wall of Grief in Moscow on Saturday
(AFP/Getty)
Stuti Mishra 18 February 2024 05:30
1 hour ago Navalny will ‘live on forever in millions of hearts’ - head of anti-corruption foundation
Maria Pevchikh, head of the board of Navalny’s anti-corruption foundation, said the opposition leader would “live on forever in millions of hearts.”
“Navalny was murdered. We still don’t know how we’ll keep on living, but together, we’ll think of something,” she wrote on X.
Matt Mathers 18 February 2024 05:00
2 hours ago In pictures: From France to India, people light candles and lay flowers in memory of Alexei Navalny
Attendees hold candles during a tribute rally to Alexei Navalny at Place du Trocadero with the Eiffel Tower in the background in Paris on Saturday
(AFP/Getty)
Flowers and portraits are left to pay homage to Alexei Navalny on Dam Square in Amsterdam on Saturday
(ANP/AFP/Getty)
A young couple stand after laying flowers in front of Russian embassy in Chisinau on Saturday
(AFP/Getty)
A girl looks at the flowers and candles placed in front of the Russian embassy in Madrid Saturday
(AFP/Getty)
People place flowers and candles at a makeshift memorial in front of the Russian embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark on Saturday
(Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima)
People gather on Dam Square in Amsterdam on Saturday, one day after Russian officials announced the death of Alexei Navalny
(ANP/AFP/Getty)
An art school teacher Prithviraj Kambli gives final touches to a painting of late Russian opposition leader and Kremlin's most prominent critic Alexei Navalny to pay tribute in Mumbai Saturday
(AFP/Getty)
Stuti Mishra 18 February 2024 04:30
2 hours ago ICYMI: How Alexei Navalny’s death could backfire for Putin
The Kremlin may hope his death serves as a deterrent to those toying with opposition activism, but in truth it makes the Russian president’s fiercest critic a hero and a martyr, writes Mary Dejevsky.
Read Mary’s piece in full here:
How Alexei Navalny’s death could backfire for Putin | Mary Dejevsky The Kremlin may hope his death serves as a deterrent to those toying with opposition activism, but in truth it makes the Russian president’s fiercest critic a hero and a martyr, writes Mary Dejevsky
Matt Mathers 18 February 2024 04:00
3 hours ago Over 400 people detained in Russia at events in memory of Navalny, rights group says
Over 400 individuals have been detained across 32 Russian cities since the death of Alexei Navalny, according to rights group OVD-Info.
The wave of arrests, the largest since September 2022, comes as Russians gather to lay flowers in Navalny's memory.
The most significant detentions occurred in Moscow and St Petersburg, with over 200 people detained in the latter.
Despite ongoing protests and memorials, Russian state news agencies, under Kremlin control, have not reported on the events.
Navalny's death leaves the opposition without its leading figure ahead of the March presidential election.
Police officers detain a woman as people come to the monument to the victims of political repressions to lay flowers for late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow on Saturday
(AFP/Getty)
Stuti Mishra 18 February 2024 03:30
3 hours ago ICYMI: Alexei Navalny – the man who knew too much
For a decade and more, he and his team deployed a mix of tenacity and mockery to probe the Mafia-style financial links between those at the top of Russian politics, security and business, writes John Kampfner.
Frozen out of state-controlled mainstream media, Navalny used every digital platform and every social media channel available to shine a light on Putin’s corrupt regime, surviving multiple poisonings and incarceration until he was finally – and inevitably – silenced by his greatest foe...
Read John’s piece in full here:
Alexei Navalny – the man who knew too much For a decade and more, he and his team deployed a mix of tenacity and mockery to probe the Mafia-style financial links between those at the top of Russian politics, security and business, writes John Kampfner. Frozen out of state-controlled mainstream media, Navalny used every digital platform and every social media channel available to shine a light on Putin’s corrupt regime, surviving multiple poisonings and incarceration until he was finally – and inevitably – silenced by his greatest foe...
Matt Mathers 18 February 2024 03:00
4 hours ago Putin’s name has become a byword for cowardice
Alexei Navalny’s name will become a byword for courage. Vladimir Putin’s just became one for cowardice.
Read more letters to the editor here:
Letters: Putin’s name has become a byword for cowardice Letters to the editor: our readers share their views. Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk
Matt Mathers 18 February 2024 02:00
5 hours ago In Russia’s Arctic, Alexei Navalny’s mother searches for her son’s body
For the mother of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who died at age 47 in an Arctic penal colony, the journey to recover her son’s body Saturday was an odyssey with no clear destination.
In the end, she didn’t get what she came for.
Full report:
In Russia’s Arctic, Alexei Navalny’s mother searches for her son’s body For the mother of Alexei Navalny — the Russian opposition leader who died at age 47 in an Arctic penal colony — the journey to recover her son’s body was an odyssey with no clear destination
Matt Mathers 18 February 2024 01:00
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Floral tributes outside the Russian Embassy in London for jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny following his death (Jordan Pettitt/PA)
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