Reports of Navalny's death prompt world leaders' reactions; Yulia Navalnaya vows Putin will face consequences.

• On Friday, Yulia Navalnaya, wife of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, received a standing ovation while addressing reports of his death.
• Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, expressed his deep sadness and concern over the reports of Navalny's death.
• Earlier in the week, the Kremin critic appeared in court via videolink, appearing in good health and spirits despite the harsh conditions of the penal colony where the 47-year-old was being held.

Reports of Alexei Navalny's death in a Siberian penal colony caused dismay and suspicion among world leaders and the wife of the prominent Russian opposition leader.

On Friday, Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny's wife, received a standing ovation while addressing the Munich Security Conference.

Russian claims that Navalnaya's husband had collapsed and died were not yet independently confirmed, as she spoke with tears in her eyes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his associates in the Kremlin should be held responsible for the atrocities committed against her family and the nation as a whole, as she stated.

She stated that if it is true, she wants Putin and his staff to be punished for what they have done to her family, her country, and her husband.

She stated that the government and Vladimir Putin should be held personally accountable for the atrocities committed in our country over the past years.

Putin is responsible for Navalny's death," said President Biden, adding, "Make no mistake: Putin is responsible for Navalny's death... What has happened to Navalny is yet more proof of Putin's brutality.

The death of Navalny, which occurred less than six months after the demise of former Putin ally and Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, caused ripples at a high-level defense conference and prompted responses from political leaders worldwide.

The Foreign Ministry of Russia stated that the reaction of Western leaders to Navalny's reported death is "self-exposing" before a forensic medical examination has been conducted.

World leaders react

According to Russian media, citing the prison service of the Yamalo-Nenets region, Navalny had fallen ill and collapsed after a walk while serving a lengthy sentence on politically motivated charges.

The team of Navalny has not received confirmation of his death and has questioned the accuracy of the announcement.

On Friday, at the Munich Security Conference, Vice President Kamala Harris of the United States disclosed that her administration was verifying the "awful" information.

"Regardless of the narrative, it's important to note that Russia is accountable, and we will provide further commentary on this matter at a later time," she stated.

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, expressed his deep sadness and concern over the reports of Navalny's death.

He informed reporters that all the facts need to be verified and Russia has significant queries to respond to.

For many years, Alexei Navalny has been a powerful advocate for freedom and democracy, and NATO and its allies have long urged his immediate release.

Earlier in the week, a Kremlin critic appeared in court via video link, appearing in good health and spirits despite the harsh conditions of the penal colony where the 47-year-old was being held on a 19-year sentence.

On Friday, Interfax reported that he "immediately lost consciousness after feeling unwell following a walk."

Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, expressed her deep sadness and dismay upon hearing about his demise.

"Putin is most afraid of opposition from his own people. This serves as a stark reminder of the nature of Putin and his regime. We must come together to protect the rights and security of those who challenge authoritarianism," von der Leyen stated.

If confirmed, the death of Russian opposition leader Navalny highlights the "flaws and corruption" of the political system established by Putin, and places full responsibility on the Kremlin.

If the reports about Alexei Navalny are true, we will discuss the matter with the other countries involved.

Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister, expressed on social media platform X that Alexei Navalny, known as the fiercest advocate for Russian democracy, showed immense courage throughout his life.

He stated that his thoughts were with the wife of the individual and the people of Russia, who were greatly affected by the tragedy.

Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, expressed his deep sadness upon hearing the news of Navalny's death and stated that it was a terrible indication of how Russia has evolved as a nation in recent years.

In a post on X, Navalny stated that he "stood up for democracy and freedom in Russia" but "apparently paid for his courage with his life." He lamented that this tragic event "shows once again how Russia has changed and what kind of regime is in power in Moscow."

Stéphane Séjourné, the French Foreign Minister, stated on social media that Navalny had "sacrificed his life in opposition to an oppressive system," as per a translation.

The reality of Vladimir Putin's regime was brought to light by his death in a penal colony, and France extends its condolences to his family, loved ones, and the Russian people.

The announcement was "terrible news," said Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom, emphasizing that "the cruelty towards Navalny highlights the need to keep fighting against authoritarianism."

Russia: NATO accusations ‘self-exposing’

In August 2020, Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent, which was independently confirmed, leading to the sanctioning of seven members of the Russian government by the U.S. in early 2021.

In January 2021, Navalny was arrested shortly after returning to Russia, despite surviving a poisoning attempt and being transported to Germany for treatment. This sparked international outcry.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated via X that NATO leaders' immediate accusations against Russia following the death of Alexey Navalny were self-exposing.

Yet, the West has already voiced its 'conclusions' despite the lack of forensic medical examination data.