Brussels 16.02.2024 “We are shocked and grieved by today’s reports about the death of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny. Our thoughts are with his wife Yulia Navalnaya, his family and with all those in Russia and beyond who believe in a democratic and peaceful future for Russia. We will honour his memory as a freedom fighter” reads the Joint statement by President von der Leyen and High Representative/Vice-President Borrell on the death of Alexei Navalny in prison cell.

“Alexei Navalny demonstrated incredible courage and determination throughout his life. He bravely returned to Russia after a heinous assassination attempt. He gave hope to democrats and civil society in Russia, which is why so many people from all over the country joined his actions and listened to his messages.

“Russian authorities responded to his legitimate political and anti-corruption activities with politically motivated measures, sending him to a strict-regime penal colony far away from Moscow, inaccessible for his family, friends and observers, and harassed his lawyers.

“We had repeatedly called on Russia to ensure his safety and health, and raised our concern over his repeated ill-treatment, unjustified and unlawful disciplinary measures, and harassment amounting to physical and psychological torture by prison authorities.

“He was slowly murdered by President Putin and his regime, who fear nothing more than dissent from their own people.

“We will spare no efforts to hold the Russian political leadership and authorities to account. We demand Russian authorities to establish all facts around Navalny’s death. Russia has to immediately release all other political prisoners.”

According to Russian officials, Alexei Navalny took a short walk at his Siberian penal colony, said he felt unwell, then collapsed and never regained consciousness.

Navalny was 47 years old, and his condition had deteriorated in his three years in prison, where he complained of being denied medical treatment and had spent almost 300 days in solitary confinement. By the time of his arrest in January 2021 he had spent months recovering from a nerve agent attack.

Even so, he appeared to be in relatively good spirits and health in a court video a day before his death.
Navalny’s mother Lyudmila said her son was “alive, healthy and happy” when she last saw him on 12 February, in a Facebook post quoted by Novaya Gazeta newspaper.

According to prison authorities, doctors were with him within two minutes and an ambulance was available within six.

The state-run RT network – banned in many Western countries – raised the possibility that a blood clot killed him. Dmitry Peskov, Mr Putin’s spokesman, said “medics must somehow figure this out”.

There has been no post-mortem examination, so far.