The wife of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny on Wednesday (September 17) said that lab tests conducted on biological samples secretly taken from him reveal he was poisoned while imprisoned in a remote Arctic facility in February 2024. Navalny, a leading critic of President Vladimir Putin, died under suspicious circumstances during a 19-year prison term, which many view as political retaliation. Known for exposing corruption in Putin’s circle and mobilising mass protests, Navalny’s demise has remained unexplained by Russian authorities, who claim he suddenly fell ill during a prison yard walk on February 16.&nbsp;Before the burial, Yulia Navalnaya revealed that Navalny’s supporters managed to discreetly send biological samples abroad for testing. “The labs in two countries concluded that Alexei was deliberately poisoned,” she said in a social media video. Though she did not disclose the specifics of the samples or the poison identified, she called on the laboratories to publicly confirm their findings and name the toxin.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/christian-brueckner-suspected-in-madeline-mccann-s-disappearance-freed-after-serving-seven-year-jail-term-for-rape-1758104777095">Christian Brueckner, suspected in Madeline McCann's disappearance, freed after serving seven-year jail term for rape</a>&nbsp;Navalnaya also shared unverified images purportedly showing Navalny’s prison cell after his body was taken away, highlighting a visible pool of vomit and citing prison staff accounts describing seizures. Navalny had previously survived a Novichok nerve agent poisoning in 2020 during a Siberian campaign tour, after which he was flown to Germany for recovery. He was imprisoned upon his return to Russia in 2021 on charges widely regarded as politically motivated.&nbsp;While incarcerated, Navalny continued his anti-Putin activism and condemned Russia’s war in Ukraine. Officials say he died suddenly after falling ill during an outdoor walk. Delays in releasing his body to his family raised further doubts among supporters. Navalnaya maintains Putin ordered her husband’s assassination, an allegation the Kremlin denies.&nbsp;Since Navalny’s death, the government intensified repression of his associates, branding his wife a "terrorist and extremist," and imprisoning his lawyers and journalists covering his cases. Many of Navalny’s relatives and key supporters have fled Russia. The opposition, weakened by internal divisions, struggles to maintain influence in exile.

Navalny’s wife says lab tests on smuggled samples confirm he was poisoned in a Russian Arctic prison in 2024, alleging Kremlin-ordered murder amid ongoing repression of his allies

The wife of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny on Wednesday (September 17) said that lab tests conducted on biological samples secretly taken from him reveal he was poisoned while imprisoned in a remote Arctic facility in February 2024. Navalny, a leading critic of President Vladimir Putin, died under suspicious circumstances during a 19-year prison term, which many view as political retaliation. Known for exposing corruption in Putin’s circle and mobilising mass protests, Navalny’s demise has remained unexplained by Russian authorities, who claim he suddenly fell ill during a prison yard walk on February 16. Before the burial, Yulia Navalnaya revealed that Navalny’s supporters managed to discreetly send biological samples abroad for testing. “The labs in two countries concluded that Alexei was deliberately poisoned,” she said in a social media video. Though she did not disclose the specifics of the samples or the poison identified, she called on the laboratories to publicly confirm their findings and name the toxin. Also Read: Christian Brueckner, suspected in Madeline McCann's disappearance, freed after serving seven-year jail term for rape Navalnaya also shared unverified images purportedly showing Navalny’s prison cell after his body was taken away, highlighting a visible pool of vomit and citing prison staff accounts describing seizures. Navalny had previously survived a Novichok nerve agent poisoning in 2020 during a Siberian campaign tour, after which he was flown to Germany for recovery. He was imprisoned upon his return to Russia in 2021 on charges widely regarded as politically motivated. While incarcerated, Navalny continued his anti-Putin activism and condemned Russia’s war in Ukraine. Officials say he died suddenly after falling ill during an outdoor walk. Delays in releasing his body to his family raised further doubts among supporters. Navalnaya maintains Putin ordered her husband’s assassination, an allegation the Kremlin denies. Since Navalny’s death, the government intensified repression of his associates, branding his wife a "terrorist and extremist," and imprisoning his lawyers and journalists covering his cases. Many of Navalny’s relatives and key supporters have fled Russia. The opposition, weakened by internal divisions, struggles to maintain influence in exile.

Navalny’s wife says lab tests on smuggled samples confirm he was poisoned in a Russian Arctic prison in 2024, alleging Kremlin-ordered murder amid ongoing repression of his allies

Russian Opposition leader Alexei Navalny's death in custody linked to poisoning, labs confirm, claims wife Yulia Navalnaya

US President Joe Biden attacked former President Donald Trump's remarks equating himself with the Russian opposition leader who passed away last week in an Arctic prison during a fundraiser for his reelection campaign on Wednesday night. Biden also referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “crazy SOB”.

In a verbal spat, Biden calls Putin a "crazy SOB," while Kremlin denounces him as "Hollywood cowboy"

Russia's opposition leader and President Vladimir Putin's ardent critic Alexei Navalny had spent his last few weeks in a penal colony above the Arctic Circle before he reportedly died due to blood clotting. 
 
Various rights groups as well as Western nations had widely condemned his 19-year prison sentence, which was seen by many as a punishment for trying to cross President Vladimir Putin. 
 
While staying in prison, Navalny regularly sent messages through his lawyers and posted light-hearted messages on social media platforms.

<h2 lang="en-US">Here's how Navalny described his final days in his own words</h2>

<h3 lang="en-US">'I don't say ho-ho-ho, I say oh-oh-oh'</h3>

Navalny shared his first message from the Arctic prison colony on December 26 as he reappeared after weeks of disappearance. 
 
Speaking from the icy IK-3 prison colony located in Yamal-Nenets' Siberian region, Navalny said, "I am your new grandfather Frost. I have a tulup, an ushanka and I will have valenki soon.”

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-opposition-politician-alexei-navalny-is-dead-reports-690945">Alexei Navalny, most ardent Putin critic in recent years dies in prison, says Russian state media</a>

"I now live above the Arctic Circle ... But I don't say 'ho-ho-ho, I say 'oh-oh-oh' when I look out the window, where first there is night, then evening, then night again,” he added. 
 
He also spoke about getting tired from&nbsp;the 20-day journey he had to take to reach his new prison from his previous prison which was located in the central Vladimir region. "Don't worry about me, everything is well. I am so happy that I finally got here,” he said. 
 
Sharing more detail about the new Arctic prison, Navalny had said, "The idea that Putin was pleased (enough) that he had put me in a barracks in the Far North that they would stop throwing me in solitary confinement was ... naive.” 
 
He was allowed to go on a walk at 6:30 am when it was pitch black outside, speaking about which the 47-year-old said: "I promised myself I would go out in any weather."

<h3 lang="en-US">'11 steps from wall to wall'</h3>

He described his prison in Arctic Circle as being "11 steps from wall to wall". 
 
In a January 9 post, Navalny said, "It has never been colder than minus 32 (Celsius). Even in such a temperature you can walk more than half an hour -- only if you have the time to grow back a nose, ears and fingers. Today I was walking, freezing and thinking about Leonardo DiCaprio and his trick with a dead horse in The Revenant."

Watch:&nbsp;EU says Russia 'sole responsible' for Navalny death

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/eu-says-russia-sole-responsible-for-navalny-death-691002/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h3 lang="en-US">'Listening to I'm Russian'</h3>

The 47-year-old Putin critic also constantly ridiculed prison routines. On January 22, he wrote how the prison wardens would wake everyone up at IK-3 and play the Russian national anthem. 
 
"And right after that -- the second most important song in the country: Shaman's 'Ya Russky,'" Navalny said. The song, which means "I'm Russian" in English, has become President Vladimir Putin's unofficial anthem. 
 
"Imagine the scene. Yamal-Nenets region. Polar night. In a penal colony of convicts, prisoner Navalny serving 19 years -- who the Kremlin's propaganda for years has scolded for taking part in Russian marches -- is exercising to 'Ya Russky',” he said.

<h3 lang="en-US">'I love you'</h3>

The last post was shared by Navalny on Valentine's Day and was dedicated to his wife Yulia. 
 
"Baby, you and I have everything, just like in the song: cities, airfield lights, blue snowstorms and thousands of kilometres between us. But I feel that you are near me every second, and I love you more and more,” he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia's opposition leader and President Vladimir Putin's ardent critic Alexei Navalny had spent his last few weeks in a penal colony above the Arctic Circle before he reportedly died due to blood clotting.

Russia's opposition leader and President Vladimir Putin's ardent critic Alexei Navalny had spent his last few weeks in a penal colony above the Arctic Circle before he reportedly died due to blood clotting. Various rights groups as well as Western nations had widely condemned his 19-year prison sentence, which was seen by many as a punishment for trying to cross President Vladimir Putin. While staying in prison, Navalny regularly sent messages through his lawyers and posted light-hearted messages on social media platforms. Here's how Navalny described his final days in his own words 'I don't say ho-ho-ho, I say oh-oh-oh' Navalny shared his first message from the Arctic prison colony on December 26 as he reappeared after weeks of disappearance. Speaking from the icy IK-3 prison colony located in Yamal-Nenets' Siberian region, Navalny said, "I am your new grandfather Frost. I have a tulup, an ushanka and I will have valenki soon.” Also Read: Alexei Navalny, most ardent Putin critic in recent years dies in prison, says Russian state media "I now live above the Arctic Circle ... But I don't say 'ho-ho-ho, I say 'oh-oh-oh' when I look out the window, where first there is night, then evening, then night again,” he added. He also spoke about getting tired from the 20-day journey he had to take to reach his new prison from his previous prison which was located in the central Vladimir region. "Don't worry about me, everything is well. I am so happy that I finally got here,” he said. Sharing more detail about the new Arctic prison, Navalny had said, "The idea that Putin was pleased (enough) that he had put me in a barracks in the Far North that they would stop throwing me in solitary confinement was ... naive.” He was allowed to go on a walk at 6:30 am when it was pitch black outside, speaking about which the 47-year-old said: "I promised myself I would go out in any weather." '11 steps from wall to wall' He described his prison in Arctic Circle as being "11 steps from wall to wall". In a January 9 post, Navalny said, "It has never been colder than minus 32 (Celsius). Even in such a temperature you can walk more than half an hour -- only if you have the time to grow back a nose, ears and fingers. Today I was walking, freezing and thinking about Leonardo DiCaprio and his trick with a dead horse in The Revenant." Watch: EU says Russia 'sole responsible' for Navalny death 'Listening to I'm Russian' The 47-year-old Putin critic also constantly ridiculed prison routines. On January 22, he wrote how the prison wardens would wake everyone up at IK-3 and play the Russian national anthem. "And right after that -- the second most important song in the country: Shaman's 'Ya Russky,'" Navalny said. The song, which means "I'm Russian" in English, has become President Vladimir Putin's unofficial anthem. "Imagine the scene. Yamal-Nenets region. Polar night. In a penal colony of convicts, prisoner Navalny serving 19 years -- who the Kremlin's propaganda for years has scolded for taking part in Russian marches -- is exercising to 'Ya Russky',” he said. 'I love you' The last post was shared by Navalny on Valentine's Day and was dedicated to his wife Yulia. "Baby, you and I have everything, just like in the song: cities, airfield lights, blue snowstorms and thousands of kilometres between us. But I feel that you are near me every second, and I love you more and more,” he said. (With inputs from agencies)

'From ho-ho-ho to I love you': Here's how Putin critic Alexei Navalny described his last days in Arctic prison

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Russian Opposition leader Alexei Navalny's death in custody linked to poisoning, labs confirm, claims wife Yulia Navalnaya

In a verbal spat, Biden calls Putin a "crazy SOB," while Kremlin denounces him as "Hollywood cowboy"

'From ho-ho-ho to I love you': Here's how Putin critic Alexei Navalny described his last days in Arctic prison