A video surfaced Friday showing Alexei Navalny, a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, making a court appearance just a day before Russian officials say he collapsed and died at a penal colony in Siberia.
Footage shared by the Russian news outlet SOTAvision showed the 47-year-old laughing and appearing in good spirits while behind bars at the IK-3 penal colony, also known as “Polar Wolf,” in Kharp in northern Russia. Navalny made the appearance in Russia’s Supreme Court by video link, according to The Associated Press.
Earlier Friday morning, Russia’s prison agency announced that Navalny felt unwell after a walk and lost consciousness. An ambulance arrived to try to rehabilitate him, but he died, a statement added.
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Navalny’s spokesperson said in a post on X that “we have no confirmation of this yet.”
“Alexei’s lawyer is currently on his way to Kharp. As soon as we have some information, we will report on it,” spokesperson Kira Yarmysh added.
Reports of the death have brought condemnation from the White House, with Vice President Kamala Harris saying “Whatever story they tell, let us be clear: Russia is responsible.”
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