Ruthless Vladimir Putin SMIRKS as he’s seen for the first time since No1 enemy Alexei Navalny was ‘murdered’ in jail

TYRANT Vladimir Putin has been snapped smirking on a visit in Russia today following reports of his number one enemy Alexei Navalny’s death. The slimy dictator grinned as countless Kremlin foes fiercely slam Navalny’s reported death as a brutal act of murder. Vladimir Putin visits a plant in Russia today and smiles to himself as he makes the rounds The last picture of Navalny behind bars in Russia – appearing via video link in court yesterday Navalny in hospital with his wife Yulia at his bedside Prison officials at the “Polar Wolf” Colony where Navalny was locked up on bogus charges today claimed that he died after collapsing on a walk. Navalny, Putin’s leading domestic critic in Russia – had bravely challenged the tyrant’s rule and his horrific war in Ukraine. And many of his supports expressed fears that he would be assassinated while behind bars. His beloved wife Yulia has sworn that the dictator will be held accountable if the shocking reports are true. But Putin appeared sickeningly cheerful as he greeted people mere hours later at a public event. Latvian president Edgars Rinkevics raged on X today that Navalny was “brutally murdered by the Kremlin”. And Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy raged “Obviously, Putin killed him”. Navalny, one of Putin’s greatest enemies, was locked away on trumped-up charges after a sham trial and has been vocal about his fears of assassination. He was first picked up by Vlad’s brutal police in 2021 after returning to Russia following an assassination attempt – and has loudly condemned his war in Ukraine. In total he spent 308 days banged up – and there were reports that a sadistic Putin even demanded to see live footage of the 47-year-old undergoing punishment and being humiliated by guards.  What we know so far… Officials at the ‘Polar Wolf’ jail where Navalny was held claim he collapsed during a walk outside and died today Ukraine’s Zelensky and Latvian president Rinkevics claim Putin murdered the Kremlin critic The dad-of-two, aged just 47, had sent his wife a heartfelt Valentine’s letter days before his reported death His mum Lyudmila said she saw Navalny a few days ago and he seemed healthy and cheerful Navalny was last pictured yesterday appearing in court via video link – he looked thin and had a shaved head The Kremlin enemy had spent 308 days locked up in Russia on trumped-up charges – including for extremism and terrorism British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Putin should be ‘held accountable’ Navalny’s spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said she has had no official confirmation of his death – but a lawyer is investigating Navalny also went missing from a hellish Russian jail last year – and his supporters warned at the time that he could be executed. He was later found in one of the toughest prisons in the country in Siberia – known as “the Polar Wolf” colony. Today Navalny’s spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said she has had no confirmation of his death – but his lawyer is dashing to the jail to find out more.  She said: “The [prison service]  in the Yamalo-Nenets region is spreading the news about the death of Alexei Navalny. “We don’t have any confirmation of this yet.” Exiled Russian politician Dmitry Gudkov has fumed that even if Putin did not have Navalny assassinated – his death would still be the tyrant’s fault. “Even if Alexey died from “natural” causes, they were caused by his poisoning and further prison torture.  “Blood is on Putin,” he fumed. A statement from prison officials today read: “On February 16, 2024, in correctional colony No. 3, convict Navalny A.A. felt unwell after a walk, almost immediately losing consciousness.” An ambulance reached the brutal jail in just seven minutes – getting to Navalny’s side in another two, Interfax reported. “The doctors who arrived at the scene continued the resuscitation measures that were already being provided by the penal colony’s doctors. “And they spent more than half an hour. However, the patient died,” said the local hospital. UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron echoed comments made by Navalny’s wife today and said: “Putin should be accountable for what has happened – no one should doubt the dreadful nature of his regime.” The life of Alexei Navalny, Putin's biggest critic HERE is a timeline that shows how the leader of the opposition went from the face of freedom in Russia and the Kremlin's biggest foe to a hellhole Siberian prison - and possibly an early grave. June 4, 1976 — Navalny is born in a western part of the Moscow region1997 — Graduates from Russia’s RUDN university, where he majored in law2004 — Forms a movement against rampant over-development in Moscow2008 — Gains notoriety for calling out corruption in state-run corporationDecember 2011 — Participates in mass protests sparked by reports of widespread rigging of Russia’s election, and is arrested and jailed for 15 days for “defying a government official.”March 2012 – Further mass protests break out and Navalny accuses key Kremlin cronies of corruptionJuly 2012 — Russia’s Investigative Committee charges Navalny with embezzlement. He rejects the claims and says they are politically motivated2013 — Navalny runs for mayor in MoscowJuly 2013 — A court in Kirov convicts Navalny of embezzlement in the Kirovles case, sentencing him to five years in prison – he appeals and is allowed to continue campaignSeptember 2013 — Official results show Navalny finishes second in the mayor’s raceFebruary 2014 — Navalny is placed under house arrestDecember 2014 — Navalny and his brother, Oleg, are found guilty of fraudFebruary 2016 — The European Court of Human Rights rules that Russia violated Navalny’s right to a fair trialNovember 2016 — Russia’s Supreme Court overturns Navalny’s sentenceDecember 2016 — Navalny announces he will run in Russia’s 2018 presidential electionFebruary 2017 — The Kirov court retries Navalny and upholds his five-year suspended sentence from 2013April 2017 – Survives an assassination attempt he blames on KremlinDecember 2017 — Russia’s Central Electoral Commission bars him from running for presidentAugust, 2020 – Navalny falls into a coma on a flight and his team suspects he was poisoned. German authorities confirm he was poisoned with a Soviet-era nerve agentJan 2021 — After five months in Germany, Navalny is arrested upon his return to RussiaFeb 2021 — A Moscow court orders Navalny to serve 2 ½ years in prisonJune 2021 — A Moscow court shuts down Navalny’s Foundation for Fighting Corruption and his extended political networkFeb 2022 — Russia invades UkraineMarch 2022 — Navalny is sentenced to an additional nine-year term for embezzlement and contempt of court2023 — Over 400 Russian doctors sign an open letter to Putin, urging an end to what it calls abuse of Navalny, following reports that he was denied basic medication & suffering from slow poisoningApril, 2023 — Navalny from inside prison says he was facing new extremism and terrorism charges that could keep him behind bars for the rest of his lifeAug 2023 – A court in Russia extends Navalny’s prison sentence by 19 yearsDec 2023 – He disappears from his prison as his team fear he could be assassination. He then reappears weeks later in one of Siberia’s toughest prisons – the ‘Polar Wolf’ colony US President Joe Biden previously warned that the consequences for Russia would be “devastating” if Navalny died in prison. Vice President Kamala Harris said if the claims of his death are true, it serves as further evidence of Putin’s brutality. He was seen for the last time yesterday in court – via video link. His head was shaved and he looked thin – but appeared to be keeping positive and even made some jokes. Former Director of the CIA David Petraeus told Times Radio the news is a “tragedy” and described him as “the most courageous, most significant opponent of Vladimir Putin”. The head of Navalny’s FBK party Maria Pevchikh had warned last year: “We are worried for his life. “He’s in the hands of the very same people who tried to kill him before. “If they once got an authorisation to murder Navalny, do they have another one now or is the last one still valid. Navalny’s life is constantly at a high risk.” Navalny was poisoned by the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok in August 2020, which he claimed was an assassination attempt by the Kremlin. He was then thrown into prison for 19 years on trumped-up charges of extremism and fraud. The Kremlin critic has previously warned of Putin’s desperation to silence him, after his team published a list of 200 oligarchs accused of being “directly responsible for the aggressive war launched against Ukraine.” And a disturbing video interview earlier this year with him revealed he was suffering from mystery stomach aches, seizures and had lost 18lbs in less than a month – sparking fears of a slow poisoning. Putin visits the Forge-and-Press Plant in Chelyabinsk today Navalny with his wife Yulia – he sent her a heartfelt Valentine’s day message just days before his reported death APNavalny, with his wife Yulia, right, daughter Daria, and son Zakhar[/caption]