While many Russian politicians are echoing the Kremlin’s narrative, critics say they suspect foul play and fear that the opposition leader’s demise signals a further rise in repression.
Yulia Navalnaya made a surprise appearance at the Munich Security Conference to condemn Russia's "horrific regime," hours after her husband's announced death.
BBC News
By Sarah Rainsford
image copyrightSimonovsky District Court/Handout via Reuters
Alexei Navalny is starving, but he s still making dark jokes. Three weeks into a prison hunger strike, the opposition politician has described himself as a skeleton staggering round his cell with such sunken eyes and taut skin he d frighten any child into eating their porridge.
But his supporters aren t laughing.
They ve been warning that Navalny s life hangs by a thread since blood test results appeared to show that his potassium levels were dangerously high.
Vladimir Putin s foremost critic was detained the moment he returned to Russia in January after treatment for nerve agent poisoning in Siberia last summer. He was then jailed for violating the terms of a court conviction widely condemned as politically motivated.
Navalny s supporters fear Putin wants him dead msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.