According to Russian authorities, Alexei Navalny collapsed after a walk and then died. However, this information has been questioned by Navalny’s relatives and staff, says Carl Fridh Kleberg.
– Information from Russian authorities is difficult to take without further evidence.
The death may have occurred earlier
Cars from the Russian security service are said to have arrived and a search was made of the prison a day before Navalny’s death, according to another prisoner, according to the Russian independent media Novaya Gazeta.
– This gave the prisoner the impression that something big must have happened earlier in the day than claimed, says Fridh Kleberg.
400 Protesters have been arrested
During his lifetime, Alexei Navalny has been characterized by having engaged in large demonstrations and he was a high profile figure in Russian politics. His death has also caused demonstrations in the country. During these, more than 400 people are said to have been arrested and 150 sentenced.
– I have spoken to Russians who feel great sadness. Partly on a personal level, but also if you look at Russia’s development. People who support Navalny have done so because they want to see a different Russia, says Fridh Kleberg
Although some Russians have gone out to demonstrate, Fridh Kleberg says that this is not at all as many as could be seen in demonstrations before the war in Ukraine.
– It reflects that fear has taken hold of the Russians, and how divided, broken and defeated the opposition is.
Where Navalny’s body is is currently unclear, hear Carl Fridh Kleberg tell us about what we know in the clip above.