The Moscow authorities warned residents of the Russian capital on Friday, February 16, against any demonstrations following the announcement of the death of Kremlin opponent number one, Alexei Navalny. “Organizing or holding unauthorized meetings, calling for and participating in such events constitute an administrative offense,” warned the General Prosecutor’s Office in Moscow, warning against “any violation of the law.” Follow our live stream.
International reactions. As soon as Alexei Navalny's death was announced, several countries reacted and directly blamed the Kremlin. The Russian government “bears a heavy responsibility,” Norwegian diplomacy assured, while the President of Latvia assured that Alexei Navalny had just been “brutally murdered by the Kremin.” “In today's Russia, free spirits are put in the gulag and sentenced to death. Anger and indignation,” continued to react X Emmanuel Macron. Vladimir Putin “fears all competition,” denounced the head of the Ukrainian prison administration. Charles Michel, President of the European Council, also responded that the European Union held “the Russian regime” “solely responsible” for the death of the Russian enemy. Vladimir Putin must be “punished” for the atrocities against Navalny, said the wife of the Russian opponent.
Russia strikes back. The Russian Foreign Ministry accused Washington of making “unwanted” accusations after American diplomatic chief Antony Blinken called Moscow “responsible” for the death of opponent Alexei Navalny in custody. “Instead of making blanket accusations, it would be better to exercise restraint and wait for the official results of the medical report,” assured Russian diplomacy. The president of the Russian Duma (parliament) judged that Navalny's death was “advantageous” to the West.
Putin “informed,” not Navalny’s team. “On February 16, 2024, in prison No. 3, prisoner Navalny AA felt unwell after a walk (…) the causes of death are being investigated,” the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) said. The Kremlin immediately announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had been “informed” of Alexei Navalny’s death. For their part, the team of the Russian opponent stated that they had not been informed of his death. A lawyer is on his way to the prison where he was being held.
Trapped in the Russian Arctic. On December 25, 2023, we learned that Alexei Navalny, whom his relatives had not heard from for almost three weeks, was being held in a penal colony in Kharp in the Russian Arctic. Alexei Navalny served a 19-year prison sentence for “extremism.” According to the verdict against him, the opponent had to serve his sentence in a “special regime” colony, the category of facilities where prison conditions are the harshest and which are usually reserved for life prisoners and the most dangerous prisoners.