Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the murder of leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny in prison on Friday was a warning to the world and demanded an explanation for what occurred.
“The death of Alexei Navalny during his detention is another sad page that acts as a warning to the international community,” Meloni said in a statement, extending her condolences and expressing hope that “this disturbing event will be fully clarified”.
Navalny died on Friday in the Arctic prison colony where he was serving a 19-year sentence, according to Russia’s federal correctional service.
He passed out after going on a walk and medics were unable to revive him, according to the prison service.
The 47-year-old was Russia’s most prominent opposition leader, earning a large following for his condemnation of corruption in Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
‘Never Forgive’ Navalny’s Death
Following the previous announcement of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s death in prison, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk promised to “never forgive” on Friday.
“Alexei, we shall not forget you. And we will never forgive them,” Tusk wrote on X (previously Twitter), referring to the Kremlin critic’s killing.
Russia’s Investigative Committee announced that it had launched an investigation into the death.
Navalny’s press secretary, Kira Yarmysh, stated that his staff had not been told of his death.