International desk: Russia's popular opposition leader and staunch critic of Vladimir Putin, Alexei Navalny, has died.

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Qatar-based media Al-Jazeera reported on Friday (February 16) that the 47-year-old leader's death was not immediately confirmed by his party.

Navalny was in a secluded prison 40 kilometers from the Arctic Circle. There he was serving a 30-year sentence.

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The Kremlin, the Russian president's office, said it did not know the cause of Navalny's death. According to local prison authorities, Navalny suddenly fell while walking. An ambulance was quickly called for him. But the paramedics could not do anything positive. But the cause of his death is now trying to know.

Navalny appeared in court via video call last January. His head was shaved then. Besides, his physical condition was also very bad.

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Navalny suddenly disappeared from prison in December last year. He was not heard from for about 6 weeks.

Incidentally, Navalny was sentenced to 30 years in prison for terrorism and fraud. Since 2010, he has been conducting various activities against President Putin. Navalny had no chance of being released while Putin was president. But he did not have the chance to see the end of Putin's rule. Before this, he left the illusion of the world.

SUN NEWS/MR