Navalny’s supporters stated that they were unable to verify his death, but they expressed their belief that if he had indeed passed away, it was likely due to foul play.
Russia’s most prominent opposition figure, Alexei Navalny, passed away on Friday after experiencing a collapse and loss of consciousness at the penal colony where he was serving a lengthy jail sentence north of the Arctic Circle, as confirmed by the Russian prison service.
Navalny, 47, gained widespread attention over a decade ago for satirizing President Vladimir Putin and the Russian elite, whom he accused of extensive corruption, greed, and extravagance.
According to a statement from the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, Navalny “became ill” following a stroll at the IK-3 penal colony in Kharp, located approximately 1,900 km (1,200 miles) northeast of Moscow.
He reportedly lost consciousness shortly afterward.