Alexei Navalny, the relentless critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and a stalwart advocate against official corruption, has shockingly died in prison. This tragic incident was hardly unpredictable, fitting into a concerning pattern of silenced opposition within Russia. Detained on trumped-up charges and previously poisoned, Navalny’s death has sparked global outrage.

Braving challenges even in the face of imminent danger, Navalny mobilized massive anti-Kremlin protests and tirelessly fought for the truth, posing a formidable challenge to Putin’s reign. His sudden death after falling unconscious post a walk, as reported by Russia’s prison service, seems suspicious and has incited intense backlash.

US President Joe Biden unequivocally condemned the incident, placing the responsibility for Navalny’s death squarely on Putin. Reflecting Biden’s sentiments, fellow Russian opposition activists voiced their concerns too. Influential opposition politician, Dmitry Gudkov went as far as to label it as a murder orchestrated by Putin.

Navalny, who served a sentence in one of Russia’s harshest prisons, was widely recognized as Putin’s fiercest adversary over the past decade. His crusade against official corruption and his power to organize mass protests shook the very foundation of the Kremlin, serving as a bold testament to his unyielding spirit. His death marks a grim chapter in the story of political dissent in Putin’s Russia.