For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid email address
SIGN UP
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice
Thanks for signing up to the
Breaking News email
{{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}
Watch as a memorial event for Alexei Navalny was held in Vilnius, Lithuania, after the Russian opposition leader's death was reported on Friday, 16 February.
Vladimir Putin's most prominent critic, 47, was reported to have died in jail by the Siberian prison service, where the anti-corruption activist had been serving his almost two-decade sentence.
Navalny was imprisoned in 2021 when he returned to Russia having been treated in Germany for poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin.
He had recently been moved to a "special regime" penal colony near the Arctic Circle where he was jailed on extremism charges that supporters and much of the international community believe were trumped up to silence him.
Navalny's death was reported by the prison service on Friday.
RECOMMENDED
Meghan Markle responds to website backlash as King Charles continues cancer treatment
Undo
Trump's legal debts top a half-billion dollars. Will he have to pay?
Undo
Telehealth Dave
Taylor Swift, 33, Takes Off Makeup, Leaves Us With No WordsTelehealth Dave| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Navy Quest Game
Play this game for 1 minute and see why everyone is addicted.Navy Quest Game| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Powered by Taboola Powered by Taboola
His team said his lawyer was flying there but did not immediately confirm his death.
In a statement, the federal prison service said that Navalny felt unwell after a walk on Friday and lost consciousness.
An ambulance arrived to try to rehabilitate him, but he died, they added.
Alexei Navalny's wife initially said she didn't know if she should believe the news.
Fighting back tears as she spoke for the first time following the prison service's announcement, Yulia Navalnaya told the Munich Security Conference: "I want Putin and everyone around him to know that they will be held accountable for everything they did to our country, to my family.”
More about Alexei Navalny Vladimir Putin Russia Kremlin Lithuania Independent Live Streams
Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments
1/ 1Watch: Alexei Navalny memorial held after death of Putin critic
Watch: Alexei Navalny memorial held after death of Putin critic
KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images
Read More Comments
Collapse Comments
? Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Subscribe
Already subscribed? Log in