Alexei Navalny

Navalny emerged as a leading figure in mass protests against Vladimir Putin's rule following allegations of fraud in the 2011 Duma elections. He organized rallies and used social media to mobilize opposition, establishing himself as a prominent anti-corruption activist.

Navalny ran for mayor of Moscow, finishing second with 27% of the vote against incumbent Sergei Sobyanin. The campaign demonstrated his ability to attract significant support despite state-controlled media and legal restrictions.

Navalny fell into a coma during a flight from Tomsk to Moscow after being poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok. He was evacuated to Germany for treatment. International investigations attributed the poisoning to Russian state security services.

Navalny returned to Russia from Germany in January 2021, knowing he would be arrested. He was detained at passport control and later sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for violating parole terms of a previous suspended sentence. This triggered widespread protests.

Navalny died at the IK-3 penal colony in Kharp, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The official cause was reported as sudden death syndrome. His death was widely condemned internationally as a political killing by the Russian government.