Background

Alexei Navalny, known for rising to prominence exposing high-level corruption with Russia’s government, died while serving a 19-year sentence in the Vladimir region of Central Russia. He became a powerful opposition symbol while garnering international attention, which placed him in Russian President’s Vladimir Putin’s crosshairs. He made many arguments against Russia’s ways, leading him to be sent to be incarcerated by Putin many times throughout his political career. 

Time-line

August 20, 2020 – Navalny is hospitalized in the Siberian city of Omsk after falling ill, losing consciousness. 

August 22, 2020 – Navalny is airlifted to Charite hospital in Germany’s capital for treatment.

September 2, 2020 – German officials prove Navalny’s poisoning, and say there is “unequivocal proof” he was poisoned in an attempted murder. 

September 4, 2020 – A Russian toxicologist states that no poison had been found in Navalny’s body. 

September 14, 2020 – Laboratories in France and Sweden confirm Germany’s finding that Navakny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent. 

September 22, 2020 – Navalny’s discharged from hospital, and doctors confirm he can make a complete recovery. 

October 1, 2020 – Navalny accuses Putin of the poisoning.

January 17, 2021 to July 11, 2022 – Navalny is detained in jail. 

January 11, 2023 – More than 400 Russian doctors sign an open letter to Putin, urging an end to what they say are abusive jail conditions for Navalny. 

August 4, 2023 – Navalny is convicted of terrorism charges, and is sentenced to 19 years in prison. 

February 16, 2024 – Navalny is reported dead by authorities. 

Death

Navalny was reported to have lost consciousness after a walk on Friday, and could not be revived by medics. His widow (Yulia Navalnaya) along with his mother (Lyudmila Navalnaya) were informed that his corpse is being held for “chemical analysis.” The bodies whereabouts are currently unknown, where efforts of its location have been shut down. Yulia Navalnaya demanded the return of his body with a post on X, “Give back Alexei’s body and let him be buried with dignity….” In a video on Monday she also accused Putin of killing her husband. She also alleged that her husband’s body was being kept until traces of poisoning had disappeared, though this is not verified. Navalnaya asked people to stand beside her and “share the fury and hate for those who dared to kill our future.” Though these accusations are not verified, authorities will be looking into it along with Navalnaway’s lawyer.  

Cites

https://apnews.com/article/russia-navalny-prison-arctic-circle-isolation-ade9fe2d39acc5aa5078e6d69d2e0e6b#:~:text=Navalny%2C%2047%2C%20is%20jailed%20on,Russia%20%E2%80%94%20above%20the%20Artic%20Circle. 

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/16/hold-alexei-navalny-timeline-from-poisoning-to-prison

https://www.rochester.edu/newscenter/alexei-navalny-russian-soviet-opposition-movements-putin-593362/#:~:text=Navalny%20rose%20to%20prominence%20exposing,squarely%20in%20the%20Kremlin’s%20crosshairs

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68344582

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Fworld%2Feurope%2Falexei-navalnys-death-what-do-we-know-2024-02-18%2F&psig=AOvVaw0Ein5BRS8NGPAN2vfcvwRO&ust=1708620516522000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBIQjRxqFwoTCOCS7svxvIQDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAI