site.btaFM Gabriel: Navalny Fought for Freedom, Championed Democratic Values

Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel expressed condolences to the relatives and friends of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny who passed away on Friday.

"I was devastated to learn the news about Alexey Navalny's death," Gabriel wrote on X. "He fought for freedom, championed democratic values and demonstrated remarkable courage," the Foreign Minister added.

Navalny was serving a 19-year sentence for extremism. In December 2023, he was transferred to a maximum security penal colony north of the Polar Circle. In an official statement, the Federal Penitentiary Service said that Navalny felt unwell after a walk on Friday and lost consciousness. Medical staff was called, but were unable to resuscitate him.