, nature of his regime in dreadful nature of his regime in russia — dreadful nature of his regime in russia after what has just dreadful nature of his regime in russia after what hasjust happened. hello, welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. we begin with our breaking news from russia, where the prison service has announced that the jailed kremlin critic alexei navalny has died. in a statement, it said he felt unwell after a walk and almost immediately lost consciousness. the interfax news agency says medics spent more than half an hour trying to resuscitate him. the 47—year—old was serving a 19—yearjail term for offences widely considered politically motivated. in 2020 he was poisoned

with the nerve agent novichok. sources close to two him accused the russian government of trying to kill him. our correspondent paul adams looks back at the life of alexei navalny. for years, alexei navalny was a thorn in the side of the kremlin. a lawyer by training, he started out as an anti—corruption blogger. but he shot to prominence in 2011, during protests over parliamentary elections tainted by allegations of fraud. the demonstrations were the largest russia had seen for years. navalny was arrested, suddenly emerging as a significant opposition figure. his charismatic presence on the streets soon made him a regular target of the authorities. alexei navalny was a strong nationalist, but also a fierce critic of russia's powerful elites. he developed a huge following on social media, publishing regular investigations into high—level corruption.

his popular youtube channel, with its slick videos, was full of allegations against prominent figures. translation: what we're seeing now is that the internet _ is the number—one concern for the current regime, and its number—one enemy, too. his revelations led to official harassment, his offices searched, he and his staff detained. in 2017, he was attacked with green dye, causing damage to his right eye. chanting the following year, he was barred from running for president, manhandled and arrested at a demonstration in moscow. and in 2020, he was poisoned, falling ill on a flight from siberia. he was evacuated to germany for treatment. international chemical weapons experts found traces of the nerve agent novichok. navalny survived and accused vladimir putin of trying to have him killed.

five months later, navalny returned to russia, only to be thrown injail once more. protests erupted across the country — fuelled, in part, by publication of yet another video, accusing russia's president of corruption. despite a hunger strike and international pressure, navalny remained behind bars, designated a terrorist and sentenced to long years in prison. alexei navalny leaves behind a wife, daughter and son, and a country where opposition has been utterly stifled. paul adams with that report. his mother has posted on facebook, it was a short statement and said...

that post is quoted by the newspaper as well and you can see it on the screen. a short time ago, kremlin spokesman dmitry peskov was asked about mr navalny�*s death. he told reporters he had no information, but prison authorities were in the process of determining the cause of death. translation: as of now, - we know currently, in accordance with all existing rules, everyone is engaged in all checks, clarifications and so on. that is, there is no need for special instructions because there is a certain set of rules that everyone is now following. kamala harris shared her reaction. before i begin today, we have all received reports that alexei navalny has died in russia. this is of course terrible news which we are working to confirm. my prayers are

with his family including his wife julia who is with us today and if confirmed, this would be a further sign of putin's brutality. whatever story they tell, let us be clear, russia is responsible and we will have more to say on this later. lats have more to say on this later. lots of reaction — have more to say on this later. lots of reaction coming _ have more to say on this later. lots of reaction coming in. _ have more to say on this later. lots of reaction coming in. this is what lord cameron had to say. he of reaction coming in. this is what lord cameron had to say.- of reaction coming in. this is what lord cameron had to say. he was an incredibly brave _ lord cameron had to say. he was an incredibly brave fight _ lord cameron had to say. he was an incredibly brave fight against - incredibly brave fight against corruption and gave up everything in campaigning for what he believed in. my campaigning for what he believed in. my heart goes out to his wife and his family. we should be clear about what has happened here. putin's russia imprisoned him, poisoned him and sent him a two and a marketing penal colony and now he has tragically died. he should be held accountable for this and no one should be in doubt about the

dreadful nature of the regime in russia after what has just happened. will there be consequences for russia now?— russia now? there should be consequences _ russia now? there should be consequences because - russia now? there should be consequences because there | russia now? there should be i consequences because there is russia now? there should be - consequences because there is no doubt in my mind, this man was a brave fight against corruption, for justice and democracy, and look what putin's russia did to him. he died and that is because of the action that putin's russia tech. no one can look at this regime now and not recognise it for the dreadful nature it is. a, recognise it for the dreadful nature it is. �* ., , . , , recognise it for the dreadful nature itis. , it is. a development has “ust come into us. it is. a development has “ust come into we — it is. a development has “ust come into us. we had h it is. a development has “ust come into us. we had a _ it is. a development has “ust come into us. we had a mild _ it is. a development hasjust come into us. we had a mild cam - it is. a development hasjust come into us. we had a mild cam there l it is. a development hasjust come | into us. we had a mild cam there at the munich security conference and now we're hearing from the us state department that the us secretary of state has met with alexei navalny�*s wife usually are. —— julia. it was widely thought that alexei navalny�*s wife was also attending the security conference and there is

complimentary and there that she is there that my confirmation. let's listen. thank you. applause.

speaks russian. translation: i'm sure alexi would be here on this stage _ translation: i'm sure alexi would be here on this stage talking _ translation: i'm sure alexi would be here on this stage talking to _ translation: i'm sure alexi would be here on this stage talking to you. - translation: i'm sure alexi would be here on this stage talking to you. i - here on this stage talking to you. i don't know whether i should believe the news about his death but it's horrible news. we are hearing this news only from state sources. for many years, we all know that we live under putin's government and they are always lying. but if it is true,

i know that putin and all his allies, all his friends, all his government no that they would be responsible and held responsible for what they have done with our country, with my husband and with our people. and this would come sooner than you think. i am asking all people here, all international communities to unite and help to punish this regime in russia. this regime and putin must be held

responsible for all the horrible things he is doing to russia and to us over the past few years. thank you. us over the past few years. thank ou. �* ~ ,, applause. there you have it. we heard from alexei navalny�*s wife and you are translating what she was

saying, olga. just recap what we heard from a very moving moment that no one expected in that conference. yes, incredible. unexpected appearance of alexei navalny�*s wife just a few hours after she got the news after his death as reported by state media. she said that she was there, she was in munich ready to be present at the conference today for other purposes and her children in other purposes and her children in other towns, she said when the news came she had a dilemma about whether she should fly and see her kids to be with them at that horrific moment or whether she should stay in munich, go on stage and make a statement. she said it was a horrible choice to make but she tried to think about what her husband would do and she was sure

that if he was there he would stay and talk because that is exactly what is needed in the moment. she said she asked international community and everyone around to unite and hold putin personal, his allies and friends and held them responsible for everything they have done to their family and russia as a whole, as a country. she said she believes the day would come sooner than putin thinks and she asked everyone to unite to make this possible. everyone to unite to make this ossible. , .,, , possible. some people will be saying it's surprising — possible. some people will be saying it's surprising she _ possible. some people will be saying it's surprising she was _ possible. some people will be saying it's surprising she was there - possible. some people will be saying it's surprising she was there but - it's surprising she was there but she was outside russia advocating for those causes that alexei navalny believed so strongly. yes. for those causes that alexei navalny believed so strongly.— believed so strongly. yes, she had to leave russia _ believed so strongly. yes, she had to leave russia after— believed so strongly. yes, she had to leave russia after the _ to leave russia after the large—scale invasion in ukraine

because she was getting all sorts of informal warnings and she'd rather go. all of navalny�*s allies and close friends and colleagues had to leave because of threats they were getting and as we know, for example, one of navalny�*s colleagues, his father was sent to jail and charges many people believe a politically motivated. forthe many people believe a politically motivated. for the sake of her safety and the safety of her children, she decided to leave. from what i know, she's in germany normally. so she was there, she was based abroad for the past year and from what we know, she was invited to munich, the conference to advocate for her causes and talk about what was going on. she just happened to be there and despite that hard moment, the emotions

overflowing, she has made a choice to appear publicly and make a public appearance to speak about what has happened about her beliefs and emotions, and she made that choice and delayed her trip back to reunite with her children. a very strong moment and reminds us of what an incredibly strong woman she is. to remind you, many people believe, many colleagues and opposition figures believe that yulia navalny was the one who made his survival possible because in 2021 when he was poisoned, she made all possible steps to get him out of hospital from the russian state hospital and got permission to transport him into germany and german doctors believe only that step made it possible to save him because later on, german

doctors were disputing decisions made by some of russian doctors in the hospital and they were saying those decisions it seemed were not helping him to survive. it seems she has saved his life back in 2020 together german doctors and now, she has chosen to make this statement and delay her trip to see her children stop this shows the price russian opposition figures and their families are paying for criticism of putin and their decision to publicly oppose the kremlin and its rhetoric. thank you for the moment. we're just looking at pictures there of alexei navalny�*s wife speaking at the munich security conference. a standing ovation from those present and we believe before she stood on

the stage she met with the us secretary of state antony blinken. our chief international correspondent is at that security conference in munich. let's go straight to her to get more reaction. an unexpected appearance on stage for yulia navalny. yes. on stage for yulia navalny. yes, very soon _ on stage for yulia navalny. yes, very soon after— on stage for yulia navalny. yes, very soon after the _ on stage for yulia navalny. yes, very soon after the news - on stage for yulia navalny. us: very soon after the news broke of alexei navalny�*s death and that shot like a bolt of electricity through the security conference. everyone here on the mainstream and inside the halls are reacting to this news and people said his wife yulia is going to be here and there were telling us on bbc news he was meant to meet her tomorrow. and about 45 minutes ago, she was seen were walking through the front door along

with another of alexei navalny�*s colleagues, went straight through the doors and those painful moments of decision that we heard being described about how she got back to see herfamily described about how she got back to see her family or whether she should stay here, she went through the doors, went straight onstage and made a very moving moments that we just broadcast live on bbc news, that standing ovation and sustained applause at the beginning and end of her speech. applause at the beginning and end of herspeech. it's applause at the beginning and end of her speech. it's a strange moment of history and should happen here where year in, year out, russia is the main story on the agenda even though there are no senior russian officials here this year, they weren't invited. there munich security conference said they did not believe russia was interested in dialogue and yet yulia and many other members of alexei navalny�*s team were here to talk about russia

and the full—scale russian invasion of ukraine and unexpectedly, it's become the main topic at the munich security conference. and become the main topic at the munich security conference.— security conference. and what are the reaction _ security conference. and what are the reaction are _ security conference. and what are the reaction are we _ security conference. and what are the reaction are we getting - security conference. and what are the reaction are we getting at - security conference. and what are the reaction are we getting at that conference?— conference? one person after another. _ conference? one person after another. we _ conference? one person after another, we heard _ conference? one person after another, we heard from - conference? one person after another, we heard from jens l another, we heard from jens stoltenberg, the un secretary general, from lord cameron, the same message from yulia navalny that president putin must be held responsible for alexei navalny�*s death. the last politician we spoke to us the former swedish prime minister and foreign minister, to us the former swedish prime ministerand foreign minister, i understand we can bring a bit of what he had to say. it’s understand we can bring a bit of what he had to say. it's obviously traaic. what he had to say. it's obviously tragic it's _ what he had to say. it's obviously tragic. it's tragic _ what he had to say. it's obviously tragic. it's tragic for _ what he had to say. it's obviously tragic. it's tragic for russia - what he had to say. it's obviously tragic. it's tragic for russia to - tragic. it's tragic for russia to because — tragic. it's tragic for russia to because he was a brave man, he represented hope for many russians,

a future _ represented hope for many russians, a future beyond this regime. particularly young people. he was a popular— particularly young people. he was a popular man amongst russian people who could _ popular man amongst russian people who could not speak up and knew there _ who could not speak up and knew there was— who could not speak up and knew there was hope sometimes. do you hold him responsible? _ there was hope sometimes. do you hold him responsible? i _ there was hope sometimes. do you hold him responsible? i do. - there was hope sometimes. do you hold him responsible? i do. we - there was hope sometimes. do you l hold him responsible? i do. we know he tried to murder— hold him responsible? i do. we know he tried to murder him _ hold him responsible? i do. we know he tried to murder him before - hold him responsible? i do. we know he tried to murder him before with i he tried to murder him before with the poisoning, no question about that _ the poisoning, no question about that we — the poisoning, no question about that. we know he was put injail and increasingly— that. we know he was put injail and increasingly severe conditions, exactly — increasingly severe conditions, exactly what happened because it was evidently— exactly what happened because it was evidently in good health as of yesterday more or less, as it happened _ yesterday more or less, as it happened that people just drop dead without— happened that people just drop dead without advance warning? we don't know _ without advance warning? we don't know i_ without advance warning? we don't know. i don't think we will ever know — know. i don't think we will ever know the _ know. i don't think we will ever know. the authorities in russia give their basin. — know. the authorities in russia give their basin, we don't believe that version — their basin, we don't believe that version. but we know for certain that they—

version. but we know for certain that they wanted him dead. we know he is dead _ that they wanted him dead. we know he is dead. there we can draw the conclusions — he is dead. there we can draw the conclusions-— conclusions. the former swedish prime minister _ conclusions. the former swedish prime minister there. _ conclusions. the former swedish prime minister there. like - conclusions. the former swedish prime minister there. like so - conclusions. the former swedish i prime minister there. like so many here, he'sjust prime minister there. like so many here, he's just reflecting prime minister there. like so many here, he'sjust reflecting on prime minister there. like so many here, he's just reflecting on the sudden death of alexei navalny. reportedly for a while ago, his wife yulia took to stage in a hotel behind me and let's listen to what she had to say. transition backi she had to say. transition back i thought of what he translation: he would be here on the stare, translation: he would be here on the stage. talking — translation: he would be here on the stage. talking to — translation: he would be here on the stage, talking to you. _ translation: he would be here on the stage, talking to you. i _ translation: he would be here on the stage, talking to you. i don't _ translation: he would be here on the stage, talking to you. i don't know - stage, talking to you. i don't know whether we should believe the news about his death, the horrible news. we are hearing this news only from the state sources.

for many years, we all know that we live under putin's government and they are always lying. but if it is true, i know that putin and all his allies, all his friends, all his government know that they would be held responsible for what they have done with our country, with my husband and with our people. and this day will come sooner than you think. i am asking all people here, all international communities to unite and help to

punish this regime in russia. this regime and putin must be held responsible for all the horrible things he is doing to russia and to us over the past few years. thank you. yulia navalny showing great courage at this moment of such deep grief to have family members and children who will be waiting to see her now. not just taking to the stage in the grand hotel behind me, the munich security conference, but literally taking to the world stage. these images of a very brave politician in her own right, a very brave opposition figure but most of all in

this moment the wife of alexei navalny saying she made the difficult choice to stay here in munich where she had meetings planned rather than rushing home to her children because she believed this is what her husband alexei would have done should he still be alive. everyone so the message to the world to do everything possible to hold putin responsible for her husband's death and of course russia was already on the agenda here. no russian officials were invited at the munich security conference, who said they did not believe russia was interested in dialogue. another strong message being sent today to moscow and president putin from munich. we will continue to follow developments the back teeth are now. thank you. that munich security conference which has proven to be very eventful. let's speak to dr samuel ramani —

a politics and international relations tutor at the university of oxford and an associate fellow at the royal united service institute. thank you forjoining us here in bbc news. as i was saying just then, it's been quite an eventful day in the reaction we have seen at the munich security conference reveals just how divided people are about what has happened. a lot of western leaders condemning the death of mr navalny but the kremlin saying that the... what are your thoughts of what has happened so far? is stiffly sad what has _ what has happened so far? is stiffly sad what has happened. _ what has happened so far? is stiffly sad what has happened. yesterdayl what has happened so far? is stiffly l sad what has happened. yesterday he was on video seeming to be increased do make decent health. he was sent to punishment camp for the fourth time in the past two months and he suffered from what the russian

government said it was some kind of stroke. the lawyer was killed over a decade ago. stroke. the lawyer was killed over a decade ago-— stroke. the lawyer was killed over a decade ago. we're hearing from the news agency — decade ago. we're hearing from the news agency saying _ decade ago. we're hearing from the news agency saying russia's - decade ago. we're hearing from the news agency saying russia's for - decade ago. we're hearing from the news agency saying russia's for an l news agency saying russia's for an industry says the us should show restraint regarding alexei navalny�*s death. it's unsurprising we would hear that from the russian government. but this leaves an already rock bottom relationship with the west and the us with russia in an even more dire situation. absolutely. it also increases chances of a potential breakthrough in the house with an aid package to ukraine. some of the republican congress serviceman standing up for human rights in russia are now dragging theirfeet. would human rights in russia are now dragging their feet. would that make it easier to send aid to ukraine?

that's why i think the kremlin is most worried about. and the unofficial narrative coming out of moscow from russia today claiming that russia is not claiming any benefit from killing him in the elections. outside enemy forces who be doing that, implying the west behind it. the statement about western restraint includes those expenses too. find western restraint includes those expenses too-— western restraint includes those exenses too. �* ., . , ., expenses too. and more details from the auen expenses too. and more details from the agency quoting — expenses too. and more details from the agency quoting the _ expenses too. and more details from the agency quoting the foreign - the agency quoting the foreign ministry saying the us should wait forforensic ministry saying the us should wait for forensic results on alexei navalny�*s death. how much was alexei navalny�*s death. how much was alexei navalny a thorn in vladimir putin's side? he navalny a thorn in vladimir putin's side? . . , , , navalny a thorn in vladimir putin's side? . . , ., side? he certainly was because of his uniuue side? he certainly was because of his unique ability _ side? he certainly was because of his unique ability to _ side? he certainly was because of his unique ability to mobilise - side? he certainly was because of| his unique ability to mobilise large

numbers of people against russia's corruption and justices of the putin regime. i was in moscow in 2018 where there were protests against the domestic agenda. and in those rallies they shut down large parts of moscow for periods of time. he was also instrumental in the exposure of corruption. he is one of the few opposition figures able to mobilise huge numbers of people and partly because he was liberal nationalist. he had to be appealing to those who are russian nationalists and also pros the corruption of britain's regime. that's why he was imprisoned and why he was a voice that britain wanted to see silenced. let he was a voice that britain wanted to see silenced.— he was a voice that britain wanted to see silenced. let me bring you in this reaction — to see silenced. let me bring you in this reaction from _ to see silenced. let me bring you in this reaction from canada's - to see silenced. let me bring you in this reaction from canada's prime . this reaction from canada's prime minister, justin trudeau. he said that alexei navalny�*s death was a

tragedy and has reminded the entire world what a monster vladimir putin is. lots of reaction that is coming in from this. and from emmanuel macron who has accused russia of sending those to death. there was already very limited space for people to criticise russia's president and russian government and in many ways he became the representation of that. where does that leave any of his critics? he was the that leave any of his critics? he: was the personification of russian opposition and even in prison, criticising the war and expressing his views. he was using as representatives to promote this. this is a big loss because it coincides with the arrest of other russian opposition figures such as

one who returned to russia went to jail and we see several others being silenced. this is a really dark day of whatever was left of free speech in russia and with the elections being held, the grip on power is getting stronger and eventual conscription of thousands more people under the radar, if native reports are meant to be relieved, it looks like he's moving into the direction of a totalitarian state and away from any semblance of democracy. and away from any semblance of democracy-— in 2017 the bbc hard talk programme spoke to him about the danger he faces in opposition to vladimir putin. let us listen to that

interview. your brother is currently in prison, in solitary confinement. you know that you are treading a very fine line and if you go one inch too far you will end up in prison or who knows. i you will end up in prison or who knows. , ., �* . knows. i definitely don't choose this life to _ knows. i definitely don't choose this life to myself. _ knows. i definitely don't choose this life to myself. i _ knows. i definitely don't choose this life to myself. i do - knows. i definitely don't choose this life to myself. i do what - knows. i definitely don't choose this life to myself. i do what i i knows. i definitely don't choose i this life to myself. i do what i can in this particular moment i spent a night in the prison. i knew nothing what was going on in moscow. these people