The family of Alexei Navalny confirmed his death. It also called upon the authorities to return his body quickly.
Alexei Navalny, a staunch critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and jailed opposition leader, died mysteriously in prison.
Russian prison authorities announced his death on Friday (February 16). In a statement, ''the Yamalo-Nenets district prison authorities said Navalny suddenly felt ill after a walk.''
The statement added, ''Almost as soon as he felt ill, he lost consciousness. In such a situation, the emergency medical team is called immediately. They came and tried but could not save Navalny.''
Then the matter was confirmed from the office of the Russian President. Russian state news agency Tass said President Vladimir Putin had been informed of Navalny's death.
But Navalny's lawyer Leonid Solovyov did not comment at the time. Even after hearing the news of Navalny's death, his family and suporters could not confirm it.
In the meantime, Western politicians joined in condemning Russian government and it leader Putin over Navalny's death.
The United States issued a statement demanding an 'immediate investigation' into Navalny's death. The United Kingdom summoned diplomats from the Russian embassy, blaming the Russian government. European leaders also condemned.
On Saturday (February 17), the BBC reported that Navalny's family had confirmed his death. A spokesman for Navalny also confirmed. He said, according to official documents given to Navalny's mother Ludmila, he died last Thursday (February 16).
Meanwhile, Navalny's party and supporters have called for the speedy handover of their leader's body to his family. His body is now with Russian investigators.
Navalny, 47, has been a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Over the past decade, he has become one of the most recognizable faces in the world as an opposition leader in Russia. He was finally arrested in 2021. He was in prison since then.
Late last year, he was taken to a prison colony in the Yamalo-Nenets region of northern Siberia. Navalny died there.
An attempt was made to kill him by poisoning a few years ago before his arrest. However, he survived because he was given fast and advanced medical treatment in Germany.
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