Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny died while in custody at a penal colony on the Yamal Peninsula, as confirmed by the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia.

According to the agency's statement, Navalny experienced weakness following a walk and subsequently lost consciousness almost immediately. “Despite the efforts of emergency medical personnel, Navalny could not be revived”, it added. 

The Federal Penitentiary Service has dispatched a commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding Navalny's death.Navalny's lawyer, Leonid Solovyov, declined to offer immediate comment. However, Solovyov noted that he had visited Navalny on Wednesday and observed no signs of distress. Similarly, the Public Monitoring Commission stated that Navalny had not reported any health issues during their recent interactions.

A video released by the Telegram channel SOTAvision showed Navalny appearing healthy and in good spirits during a court session via video call on February 15.

Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for Russian President Vladimir Putin, acknowledged being briefed on the incident and stated that the Federal Penitentiary Service would handle the matter according to established protocols.

On February 14, Navalny, aged 47, was placed in solitary confinement at the colony on the Yamal Peninsula for the 27th time, for a period of seven days.

Since 2023, Navalny had been serving his sentence in the Polar Wolf special regime colony on the Yamal Peninsula in northern Western Siberia.

The conditions in the penal isolation cell are known for their strictness, including the absence of bedding, restrictions on communication with relatives, phone calls, receiving parcels, outdoor activities, and purchasing food from the store.

In August 2023, a Moscow court sentenced Navalny to 19 years in prison after convicting him of founding an extremist group, as well as inciting and financing extremism. Navalny consistently maintained his innocence, and many international observers regarded him as a political prisoner