Wen Ji Shuoming.
Navalny is known for his criticism of Russia** Vladimir Putin and Russian corruption. He is Russia's leading critic of Putin and was imprisoned immediately after his voluntary return to Moscow in 2021. He passed away on the afternoon of February 16.
Navalny, who had been poisoned several times before, was taken to Berlin by a German plane in 2020 for treatment. He was imprisoned in 2021 and his sentence was increased several times to 19 years. He was sent to a prison near the Arctic Circle in December, where he collapsed and lost his life at the age of 47 after a "walk".
Navalny's spokeswoman, Kira Yarmish, said authorities handed over an official death notice to Navalny's mother, claiming he died at 2:17 p.m. local time on Friday. Yamish noted that a prison employee in the penal colony said Navalny's body had been transported to the nearby city of Salekhard as part of the investigation into his death.
But Navalny's mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, posted on Facebook: "I don't want to hear any condolences. We met him in prison on February 12. He was alive, healthy and happy. ”
Navalny left his last words as a case of accident: "My friends, now I tell you very seriously that if they decide to kill me, it means that we are already very strong. ”
As if to verify his last words, in Moscow, St. Peter and other places in Russia, a large number of people braved the bitter cold to line up to lay flowers to commemorate the hero, proving that Navalny's words were true.
After the news of Navalny's death broke, hundreds of people rallied in various places, from New York and Washington in the United States to cities in Western Europe and then to the capitals of the Soviet bloc countries. Mourners paid their respects by placing flowers, candles and Navalny's **.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Putin had been informed of Navalny's death. Peskov also said that the reaction of Western leaders to the news of Navalny's death was "unacceptable and absolutely insane." Russia's Investigative Committee said it had opened a procedural investigation into the death.
"If the news is true, Putin and all those who work for him, I want them to know, they are not immune from punishment," said Navalny's wife, Yulia N**Alnaya. They will be punished for what they have done to this country, to my family. ”
US ** Biden directly blamed Russia, saying: "There is no doubt that Putin is responsible for Navalny's death". Biden also took this opportunity to reiterate his call on the US House of Representatives to approve the aid package for Ukraine.
Emmanuel Macron, France, said: "In today's Russia, the spirit of freedom is imprisoned in the gulag and sentenced to death. ”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: "I met Navalny in Berlin when he was trying to recover from a poisoning attack in Germany, and I also talked to him about the great courage it would take to return to his country. And he may have now paid with his life for that courage. ”
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: "This is terrible news. As the staunchest advocate of democracy in Russia, Alexei Navalny showed incredible courage throughout his life. ”
Sweden, the Netherlands, Latvia, the Czech Republic and other countries also expressed their condolences and criticized the cruelty of the Putin regime in Russia. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was appalled by the information and urged a "comprehensive, credible and transparent investigation".
However, as with the mysterious death of many opponents, the real cause of Navalny's death will remain a mystery for a long time, and it may all be self-interpretation.