Europe 1 with AFP 12:57 p.m., February 16, 2024, modified at 1:03 p.m., February 16, 2024

Russian opponent and number one adversary of the Kremlin, Alexeï Navalny, died Friday in the Arctic prison where he was serving a 19-year prison sentence, announced the prison services (FSIN). For his part, his team was not informed of his death. His lawyer is on his way to confirm the death in the prison.

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Russian opponent and number one adversary of the Kremlin, Alexeï Navalny, died Friday in the Arctic prison where he was serving a 19-year prison sentence, announced the prison services (FSIN).

“On February 16, 2024, in penitentiary center No. 3, prisoner Navalny AA felt unwell after a walk (...) the causes of death are being established,” said the FSIN of the Arctic region of Iamal in a press release.

The main information: 

  • Alexeï Navalny “paid with his life for his resistance to a system of oppression” indicates French diplomacy

  • Navalny's team not informed of his death, lawyer on his way to prison

  • Putin “informed” of Navalny’s death announces Kremlin

  • The Russian government “bears a heavy responsibility”, says Norwegian diplomacy

  • Russian opponent Navalny died in prison, the Russian press announced this Friday

Navalny's team not informed of his death, lawyer on his way to prison

Opponent Alexeï Navalny's supporters were not informed of his death in prison, announced Friday by the Russian prison authorities, said his spokesperson Kira Iarmich, specifying that one of their lawyers was going there.

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The prison service "announces the news of the death of Alexei Navalny in penal colony number 3. We do not yet have confirmation of this. Alexei's lawyer leaves by plane for Kharp (locality where the prison is located, Editor's note ).We will communicate as soon as we have information, she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

His opponent, Vladimir Putin, “informed” of Navalny’s death

Russian President Vladimir Putin was “informed” of the death of opponent Alexeï Navalny on Friday in custody, the Kremlin spokesperson said. “The president is informed,” said Dmitri Peskov, quoted by the state news agency TASS, adding that the prison services were taking care of “verifications” and “clarifications” on the cause of death.

The Russian government “bears a heavy responsibility”, says Norwegian diplomacy

Moscow bears "heavy responsibility" for the death on Friday of Russian opponent Alexeï Navalny in an Arctic prison where he was serving a 19-year sentence, said the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs. “The Russian government bears a heavy responsibility,” Barth Eide wrote on X Espen, adding that he was “deeply saddened” by the news.