Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny - a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin - has died, according to the country's prison service.
While the cause of death remains unknown, Western leaders have made clear they hold the Russian regime ultimately responsible.
His allies criticised the transfer to the maximum security facility in the town of Kharp as yet another attempt to silence Mr Navalny.
Image: Mr Navalny died at the remote 'Polar Wolf' penal colony.
Speaking at a security conference in Munich, his wife Yulia Navalnaya, said: "For many years we cannot trust Putin and the Putin government.
Mr Navalny finished second - an impressive performance against the incumbent who had the backing of Mr Putin's political machine.
His popularity increased after the prominent politician Boris Nemtsov was shot and killed in 2015 on a bridge near the Kremlin. »
