Obituary: Alexei Navalny, a Prominent Critic of Putin, Passes Away

Alexei Navalny, a prominent anti-corruption campaigner and opposition figure in Russia, died in February 2024. Navalny had endured poisoning attempts and imprisonment for his efforts to expose corruption within the Russian state, often targeting President Vladimir Putin himself. Even while in jail, Navalny's voice remained powerful. However, according to the prison service, Navalny lost consciousness and died while on a walk. The Kremlin confirmed his death but provided no further details. Navalny's death shocked and angered people worldwide, with many praising him for his courage in standing up to Russia's leader. Born in 1976, Navalny rose to prominence as a grassroots anti-corruption activist in Russian politics. He used his blog and social media platforms to expose government malpractice and corruption, particularly within state-controlled corporations. Navalny accused Putin's party of being filled with "crooks and thieves" and criticized the concentration of power in the Kremlin. Throughout his life, Navalny faced imprisonment and multiple assassination attempts, including a poisoning with the nerve agent Novichok in 2020. Despite the risks, Navalny and his team continued their fight against the Kremlin through protests and the creation of a "smart voting" app to support opposition candidates. However, Navalny was not without controversy, as he faced accusations of xenophobia due to comments he made in the past. His status as a "prisoner of conscience" was also revoked by Amnesty International but later reinstated. Navalny's harsh treatment and prolonged imprisonment reflected the fear of his growing influence within Putin's regime. Nevertheless, Navalny remained a leading voice against the war in Ukraine and spoke out against corruption and persecution even while in jail. The circumstances surrounding his death are still uncertain, leaving behind his wife and two children. His wife, Yulia, expressed skepticism towards the Russian government's handling of his death and called for those responsible to be held accountable.