Prominent Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has died while in prison, according to the country's prison service. Navalny, who was 47 years old, had been serving a 19-year prison sentence on charges of extremism at a penal colony located near the Arctic Circle. The cause of his death remains unknown.
Navalny rose to prominence in 2008 as a blogger and lawyer-turned-opposition politician and anti-corruption campaigner. His relentless criticism of the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin made him a thorn in the Kremlin's side. He gained national attention by exposing corruption in state-owned corporations and later led mass protests following allegations of fraud in parliamentary elections.
