MOSCOW (AP) — Allies of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who authorities say has died in a remote prison colony, had repeatedly raised concerns about his declining health and demanded tests after he experienced severe pain and multiple seizures.
The prominent anti-corruption activist had been serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism, widely viewed by supporters and rights advocates as retribution for his opposition to President Vladimir Putin.
Navalny, 47, collapsed at the Kharp penal colony in northwestern Siberia, according to Russia’s prison service. He had reported feeling unwell after taking a walk.
His health had been deteriorating over the years as his role as Putin’s main rival grew. He had been physically attacked, arrested, harassed, and most notably, poisoned with a Soviet-era nerve agent in a suspected assassination attempt in 2020.
The nerve agent attack nearly proved fatal, and Navalny experienced multiple illnesses while in prison over the past three years.
At well over 6 feet tall, Navalny was once a towering figure, but as he campaigned against corruption, violent attacks left him with lasting health problems.
After spending five months recuperating in Germany and relearning how to walk, speak, and eat, Navalny returned to Russia in 2021, only to be arrested and kept imprisoned until his death.
Throughout his time in prison, he suffered from severe and acute pain in his stomach, seizures, numbness in his right leg, and experienced a cough and fever, prompting his wife and over 200 Russian doctors to call for better medical treatment.
Navalny’s lawyer also expressed concerns that he may have been slowly poisoned, leading to a gradual deterioration of his health over time. Last year, he was convicted on multiple charges and sentenced to 19 years in a high-security penal colony.
The Kharp prison, where he was held, is known for its severe conditions and isolation. Russian prisons have been criticized for widespread abuse, poor medical support, and systematic torture of inmates.
His death has raised questions about the treatment of political prisoners and critics of the Russian government. His voice may be silenced, but his legacy and the circumstances surrounding his death will continue to fuel debates about human rights and the justice system in Russia.