Alexei Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most prominent domestic foe, was announced dead by Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service on Fri. Feb. 16. His death was in an arctic prison, a penal colony, where he was serving out a 30-year sentence for alleged embezzlement.

Navalny was Russia’s highest-profile opposition leader, having spent years speaking out against Putin and larger corruption within the Russian government. He survived a poisoning in 2021, returning to Russia only to be arrested on charges and quickly sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars. 

The penal colony, Polar Wolf, is considered to be one the hardest prisons in the Russian prison system. Being north of the Arctic circle, sub-zero temperatures are normal, the condition of the facilities are brutal, and even basic necessities are provided inconsistently.

In a statement provided to the public, the Federal Penitentiary Service said, “… convict Navalny A.A. felt unwell after a walk, almost immediately losing consciousness… the medical staff of the institution arrived immediately… all necessary resuscitation measures were carried out… Doctors of the ambulance stated the death of the conflict. The causes of death are being established.” No other details were given and it’s unclear where the body is, leaving many to speculate that Navalny is another victim of assassination by Putin and Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB).

In Russia, protests need authorization from government officials, who had forbidden any demonstrations in the capital over Navalny’s death, but still, crowds attended vigils and rallies – only to face police crackdowns and mass arrests. This wave of arrests is the largest in Russia in nearly two years, with over 300 arrests accounted for across 32 cities, with authorities taking away flowers and candles left in tribute to Navalny.

US President Joe Biden also weighed in and said, “…there is no doubt that the death of Navalny was the consequence of something that Putin and his thugs did.”

Mrs. Yulia Navalnaya, now a widow, has gone on to speak out about her husband’s death. “We know exactly why Putin killed Alexey three days ago. We’ll tell you about it soon,” she said. It’s clear that Navalnaya will take up the work of her late husband and go on to lead the Russian opposition to Putin, which is in mourning, but unshaken.