Navalny Supporters Demonstrate at Russian Embassy in London

Supporters of prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny protested outside the Russian embassy in London on Friday, February 16, after Russian authorities reported that the 47-year-old dissident had died in a prison colony.

Footage captured by Henry Porter shows chanting crowds on either side of the street outside the embassy in Kensington. “The chants and speeches are all Russian,” Porter said.

In a short statement posted online, Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service said Navalny fell ill and lost consciousness while walking on the grounds of the prison colony in the Yamalia region of north-central Russia, and efforts to resuscitate him failed.

The prison service said the cause of Navalny’s death was being investigated, but Western leaders were quick to point the finger at the Kremlin and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Make no mistake: Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death. Putin is responsible,” US President Joe Biden told a press conference at the White House. “What has happened to Navalny is yet more proof of Putin’s brutality.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said it was “obvious” Putin had Navalny killed.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described the reports of the death as “terrible news” and lauded Navalny as “the fiercest advocate for Russian democracy,” but did not attempt to assign blame for his death. Credit: @HenryCPorter via Storyful

Video transcript

- [CHANTING IN RUSSIAN]