we'll talk live on the programme — to the long—time putin critic, bill browder. we'll also hear reaction and condemnation from world leaders. we should hold putin accountable for this and no—one should be in any doubt about the dreadful nature of putin's regime in russia after what has just happened. ..confirmed this would be a further sign of putin's brutality. we'll bring you all the latest details, news conferences and analysis from global capitals — we'll also talk to our bbc editors and corrospondents about the man who took on putin. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala. welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. hello and welcome to verified live —

our programme today — dominated by that news from russia — that the jailed politcial activist, alexei navalny, has died. the putin critic was being held in a penal colony, close to the arctic circle — serving a 19—year sentence for extremism and fraud charges — charges widely considered to be politically motivated. there's been an avalanche of international reaction. the us vice—president, kamala harris saying, "russia is responsible for navalny�*s death". the uk prime minister said, it was "terrible news" and nato�*s secretary general says, "russia has serious questions to answer." in 2020, navalny was poisoned with the nerve agent novichok — russia's fsb security service was blamed. today, russia's prison service said navalny felt "unwell after a walk and almost immediately lost consciousness". in a moment our diplomatic correspondent, paul adams, looks back at the life of alexei navalny. but first, in the last hour we've heard from navalny�*s wife,

who has been speaking in munich. take a listen. translation: i'm sure alexi would be 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. i was thinking for a long time whether i should stay here or go straight to see my children. but then i wondered what he would do if he was here. he would have chosen to be here. i don't know whether i should believe the news about his death but it's horrible news. i was thinking for a long time whether i should stay here or go

straight to see my children. but then i wondered what he would do if 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. applause. a standing ovation therefore yulia navalny. incredible strength to speak in the early hours since that news came in but incredibly powerful words that she delivered there. our diplomatic 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. inafew in a few moments we will be talking to the long—time critic and author but for now, let's bring injohn simpson. you met and interviewed him at several times, didn't you? yes. at several times, didn't you? yes, in particular— at several times, didn't you? yes, in particular around _

at several times, didn't you? yes, in particular around 2013 - at several times, didn't you? 1&1: in particular around 2013 which was the point of his political opposition to the kremlin. he actually got 27% of the vote in moscow for the office of mayor. that was under a system where it was really hard for the opposition to rack up votes. i spoke to him and followed him and admired him quite a lot. he was a very good public speaker and knew how to get a crowd worked up in his favour. the issue he concentrated on then and ever since was the issue of corruption. he called vladimir putin the richest man in the world which could perhaps possibly be true. he was behind

issuing 500 i think photographs of the apparent palace that putin built for himself on the black sea coast. is this kind of issue which really disturbed mr putin and the kremlin in general because they know how that plays with ordinary russians. most people probably wouldn't support navalny in an election but they are angered by the sense of corruption at a time when things were quite hard for ordinary russians. that was why mr putin had to get him arrested and had to silence him. i was reminded of what happened to nelson mandela in south africa, who was kept under really

good conditions for the last ten, 15 years of his time injail good conditions for the last ten, 15 years of his time in jail because the south african government knew at some point they'd have to negotiate with him. on the contrary in russia, putin knew there was no at a possibility of negotiating with navalny so they did not care how they treated him. this must have come as a shock to everybody. he really did seem to be in reasonable health even though the camp he was held in is an appalling one 41 is into the arctic circle. nevertheless, he seemed to have the resilience to cope with the circumstances here. clearly not. find circumstances here. clearly not. and only yesterday _ circumstances here. clearly not. and only yesterday we were talking about how we saw footage of his court

appearance. he had complained pretty recently about the conditions he was being held in. that was one of the reasons for his recent transfer, wasn't it?— reasons for his recent transfer, wasn't it? , ., , ., wasn't it? yes and he complained in articular wasn't it? yes and he complained in particular about _ wasn't it? yes and he complained in particular about being _ wasn't it? yes and he complained in| particular about being malnourished. he looked malnourished to. under those circumstances, he was probably eating only about half of the amount that a healthy adults would need to eat to counter the effects of a russian winter. it's a brutal prison as well and he had a hard time there. you can imagine, he was probably singled out for particular treatment by the wardens but he managed to stand up to it. whether his health just suddenly collapsed or whether it is something even more sinister we can't at this stage no

but i wouldn't be at all surprised in the circumstances if it does come out at some stage and i think the pressure will then be even stronger on vladimir putin. find pressure will then be even stronger on vladimir putin.— on vladimir putin. and what do you make of the — on vladimir putin. and what do you make of the timing? _ on vladimir putin. and what do you make of the timing? we _ on vladimir putin. and what do you make of the timing? we are - on vladimir putin. and what do you make of the timing? we are only i on vladimir putin. and what do you make of the timing? we are only a| make of the timing? we are only a few weeks away from the latest presidential elections in some way this will represent all running shots to any sort of criticism or outspoken critics within russia. yes, of course, we have to be certain in our minds whether there was some kind of deliberate attempt to silence him permanently or whether he just to silence him permanently or whether hejust died to silence him permanently or whether he just died as a result of the way he had been treated. either could be perfectly true. if it was a deliberate attempt to silence him before the elections, that is of

course a very serious issue. the fact is navalny would have played no part in anybody�*s minds in the election. he is out of the game from the moment he came back to russia after being treated for the poisoning in germany. it wouldn't... he is not a kind of leading influence. there are very few other figures brave enough in russia to speak out in any way and we have seen several of them being jailed over the past few months. this is not i think an attempt to silence an active opposition. whether it's an attempt to say, look, i am all

powerful by putin, you can't touch me, you have to do what i say, that must be a possibility. eta? me, you have to do what i say, that must be a possibility.— must be a possibility. stay there because i will— must be a possibility. stay there because i will come _ must be a possibility. stay there because i will come back - must be a possibility. stay there because i will come back to - must be a possibility. stay there because i will come back to you | must be a possibility. stay there i because i will come back to you in the next little while. as i was saying a short while ago, there has been a lot of international reaction since this news broke out. i want to take you through some key things from leaders around the world. us secretary of state antony blinken says he'll be consulting with other countries about the death of mr navalny. ..in a russian prison. and the fixation and fear of one man only underscores the weakness and rot at the heart of the system that putin has built. russia's responsible for this. we'll be talking to many other countries concerned about alexei navalny, especially if these reports bear out to be true.

we also heard from kamal harris saying russia was ultimately responsible for this death. ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky has placed the blame on the russian leader. translation: we have just learned that alexei navalny has died - in a russian prison. 0bviously, he was killed by putin, like thousands of others who have been tormented and tortured because of this one person. putin does not care who dies as long as he retains his position, and that is why he must not keep anything. putin must lose everything. he must not retain anything. he must be held accountable for what he has done there.

european commission president ursula von der leyen said the world had lost a freedom fighter. the news of his death is horrible but it shows putin feels nothing more than resentment from his own people. he feels nothing more than people. he feels nothing more than people who speak up and fight for freedom and fight against corruption like alexei navalny did it. the world has lost a freedom fighter in alexei navalny. we will honour his name and in his name we will stand up name and in his name we will stand up for democracy and for our values. my up for democracy and for our values. my thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends. 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. let's speak tojohn simpson, bbc world affairs editor. let's hear from our correspondent. they were saying straight away, we're so to the denials from the kremlin and the muddying of the waters, and we?— waters, and we? that's what the kremlin has _ waters, and we? that's what the kremlin has been _ waters, and we? that's what the kremlin has been doing - waters, and we? that's what the kremlin has been doing for - waters, and we? that's what the l kremlin has been doing for years, thatis kremlin has been doing for years, that is correct. i'd argue that it's a bit naive to expect this investigation and autopsy but various russian officials have been talking about, it's naive to expect it to reveal the truth about the death of alexei navalny. all we know

is what caused his death is less certain but absolutely crucial. people have died in russia's notoriously harsh prisons. people have been killed there. this is what happened in the soviet union and it appears that vladimir putin's russia is reverting to that as well. let’s is reverting to that as well. let's take a stage _ is reverting to that as well. let's take a stage by _ is reverting to that as well. let's take a stage by stage. _ is reverting to that as well. let's take a stage by stage. only - take a stage by stage. 0nly yesterday we saw video footage of him but that was after so much concern in december with the sudden transfer, there was a whole period where nobody knew where he was or where nobody knew where he was or where he had been taken to. he where nobody knew where he was or where he had been taken to.- where he had been taken to. he was taken to a colony _ where he had been taken to. he was taken to a colony in _ where he had been taken to. he was taken to a colony in russia's - taken to a colony in russia's extreme north beyond the arctic circle. but when alexei navalny was asked about the conditions there, he said, he used the phrase all right.

he said if anything it's a bit too hot in there. when he appeared via video link during a court hearing yesterday, he looked his usual self, he was so all smiles are made a joke and apparently he madejokes he was so all smiles are made a joke and apparently he made jokes with thejudge and thejudge and apparently he made jokes with the judge and the judge smiled back at him so there was nothing to suggest there was anything so badly wrong with his health that he would die the following day. it's true he appeared gaunt and thin but that is probably the result of being kept in a russianjail. we also have to remember that he had been placed in what is known as the punishment cell for numerous times. that will of course have had an impact on his health. but whether it was so

immense that it killed him is less than certain. 50 immense that it killed him is less than certain-— than certain. so much detailto learn. than certain. so much detailto team but— than certain. so much detailto learn. but every _ than certain. so much detailto learn. but every to _ than certain. so much detailto learn. but every to 2020 - than certain. so much detailto learn. but every to 2020 and l than certain. so much detail to l learn. but every to 2020 and the poisoning, it remains quite extraordinary that after that because he was in a coma for so long it nearly killed him, that he still went back to russia. that is incredible when you look back and see what he did and why he did it. i think it's what will define alexei navalny inside and outside of russia. when he was returning from the relative safety of germany where he was being treated for poisoning, he was being treated for poisoning, he knew absolutely certainly what he was facing. he knew he was going to be put injailand was facing. he knew he was going to be put injail and at one point he was even asked, what if you die in jail? and he said that will be a

sign of weakness on the kremlin's part. this is clearly a possibility he had considered and yet he went ahead and returned to russia. and even before he was poisoned, he had been the target of numerous attacks, he was doused with green dye which nearly rendered him blind in one eye, he was arrested on numerous occasions. so he was a very determined and fearless fighter and that's one of the reasons so many people are saying he paid the price for his activism. we people are saying he paid the price for his activism.— for his activism. we were 'ust -la in: for his activism. we were 'ust playing international �* for his activism. we were just | playing international reactions for his activism. we were just - playing international reactions and i want to bring john simpson back into this. wejust i want to bring john simpson back into this. we just went through some of the reaction. there's been much more through the next couple of

hours will take viewers through the various statements there have been but in terms of international reaction, john, where else is there to go? there are sanctions in place and have been for two years against russia and putin, against the regime. what does the international community do here? is regime. what does the international community do here?— community do here? is difficult. there are _ community do here? is difficult. there are not _ community do here? is difficult. there are not many _ community do here? is difficult. there are not many more - community do here? is difficult. there are not many more steps| community do here? is difficult. - there are not many more steps that can be taken that have been taken after the illegal invasion of another country. i suspect that really the chief aim of western countries will be to keep the death of navalny in the eyes of the world is best they can. i think it is really going to be important for

them to simply show that there is something different about the kremlin and about vladimir putin compared withjust about kremlin and about vladimir putin compared with just about every leader. we are about to see him going freely to the uae in the gulf states even though there was an international arrest warrant out against him. several countries have made it clear they don't mind if president putin comes to visit and they weren't do anything about it. i suspect one of the key elements of the response from now on will be to try to reduce the number of countries where mr putin can actually visit. this is simply to

emphasise the sense that he is different and we don't regard a leader who jail is and oversees the death of his critics as just being an ordinary leader, somebody we may not like but somebody who we know should have the right to operate still. ithink it is should have the right to operate still. i think it is that right to operate as a normal leader which the west will try to target as best they can. . ~' west will try to target as best they can. . ~ , ., y west will try to target as best they can. . ~' , ., , . west will try to target as best they can. ., , . west will try to target as best they can. .mg , . .,., can. thank you very much once again for now. i want _ can. thank you very much once again for now. i want to _ can. thank you very much once again for now. i want to bring _ can. thank you very much once again for now. i want to bring in _ can. thank you very much once again for now. i want to bring in to - can. thank you very much once again for now. i want to bring in to the - for now. i want to bring in to the programme let's speak to elizaveta vereykina — she's a former bbc world news journalist who was on the plane with navalny when he travelled back to russia from germany in 2021. he was returning to russia after treatment abroad for a suspected poisoning attempt.

he was detained at the airport moscow as soon as he landed. we set tell us what it was like heading back to russia on that plane. i heading back to russia on that lane. . , heading back to russia on that lane. ., ., ., , heading back to russia on that lane. .,, ., ., ., , ., plane. i was among thousands of journalists _ plane. i was among thousands of journalists from _ plane. i was among thousands of journalists from all _ plane. i was among thousands of journalists from all over - plane. i was among thousands of journalists from all over the - plane. i was among thousands of| journalists from all over the world and the flights were booked by journalists and navalny and his wife yulia, we were like a swarm of bees around them with microphones and cameras and it was very tense moment when we were flying. and on the flights i remember we kept asking mr navalny to give us a comment and for us as bbc news journalists, we were asking for comments in english but he never agreed and just felt like he never agreed and just felt like he didn't want to talk much. and yulia and hejust he didn't want to talk much. and yulia and he just sat quietly on the plane and watched cartoons, rick and

morsi, and we felt like journalists around them asking questions and we tried to intervene in their private life and i think they wanted to quietly read together and finally fly home. quietly read together and finally fl home. �* ., , quietly read together and finally fl home. �* .,, ., ~ ., quietly read together and finally fl home. �* ., ~ ., ., fly home. and i was talking to our correspondent _ fly home. and i was talking to our correspondent here _ fly home. and i was talking to our correspondent here in _ fly home. and i was talking to our correspondent here in the - fly home. and i was talking to our correspondent here in the studio. correspondent here in the studio making a point, it's correspondent here in the studio making a point, its extraordinary he went back to russia given everything he had gone through. he must have known during that flight that when he got to moscow, he would be arrested, which is exactly what happened. be arrested, which is exactly what ha ened. , ., , ., be arrested, which is exactly what hauened. , ., , ., ., happened. yes, he only had a few seconds to — happened. yes, he only had a few seconds to kiss _ happened. yes, he only had a few seconds to kiss his _ happened. yes, he only had a few seconds to kiss his wife _ happened. yes, he only had a few seconds to kiss his wife at - happened. yes, he only had a few. seconds to kiss his wife at passport control and then he was led away by authorities. i was standing in my camera right next to them in this moment. but before his arrival to moscow, i never questioned whether i should come back simply because they never left. so he never saw himself

as a politician in excel. you never saw himself as someone posing to post in and he felt like russia was his country and he felt he had the same right as a run else to be there to prosper. and for him it wasn't even a question, he always saw himself in russia and wanted to be there. i also wanted to add a bit of there. i also wanted to add a bit of the moment and we were flying, originally the flight was supposed to land in one airport but was diverted a few minutes before landing, the pilot announced the plane had been diverted to another and one of the reasons is big crowds started gathering in the first

airport. he had huge support in russia back then and that was a very powerful moment and he knew there where people meeting him there giving support. but, unfortunately, this ended so sadly. aha, giving support. but, unfortunately, this ended so sadly.— this ended so sadly. a final quick thou~hts this ended so sadly. a final quick thoughts because _ this ended so sadly. a final quick thoughts because even _ this ended so sadly. a final quick thoughts because even after- this ended so sadly. a final quick. thoughts because even after being arrested and placed behind bars, he tried as much as possible along with his team to continue to try to campaign and get that message out. yes, he regularly through his lawyers leaving messages through social media and had been talking about not only the strategic ideas about not only the strategic ideas about political life in russia or in general but also talking about the history of russia and was going back into the historical reasons why russia faced what it's facing now and speed issues. he had always

identified as a very strong russian and it was and is inseparable from his life. even in a prison cell, he was regularly trying to participate in a sort of life of society and it was really important for him. he couldn't really see himself without it. ., ~ , ., , . couldn't really see himself without it. thank you very much for being on the programme _ it. thank you very much for being on the programme and _ it. thank you very much for being on the programme and going _ it. thank you very much for being on the programme and going through i the programme and going through those memories of being on that flight. these are live pictures from moscow, the first feed of pictures from the russian capital with people laying flowers after the news merging. we know the detail the russian prison service has put out so far, only a couple of sentences, about alexei navalny collapse. a few people are

merging them onto the streets. there was so much, john simpson was talking about the video he made to the mayo of moscow in 2013 and the amount of support that took the authorities by surprise. in those days people were very much more free and able to come out but harder now but some people venturing out and putting flowers there and laying their personal tributes to alexei navalny. welcome to bbc news. let us just after 3:30pm in the uk turn to the main headlines. russia's — prison service says — the jailed opposition figure, alexei navalny, has died. he was vladimir putin's most vociferous critic — this was him in court yesterday. navalney�*s wife made this defiant statement in the past hour.