that who are willing to risk everything to demonstrate this kind of sentiment. however in this kind of sentiment. however in this kind of repressive environment it is difficult to expect them to make a huge difference. vladimir putin has all but quashed domestic opposition. alexei navalny�*s anti—corruption alexei navalny�*s anti—corru ption institution alexei navalny�*s anti—corruption institution has been banned. his associates are in jail or in exile. thinking back to alexei navalny had or had not been able to do in russia it is a fact that the rally is that he has organised, the ones he has been able to hold, they did not bring out sufficient numbers of people into the street to topple vladimir putin's government or even

secure a place for alexei navalny on the presidential ballot which is something that he desperately wanted as a politician. haw something that he desperately wanted as a politician-— as a politician. how would you define his _ as a politician. how would you define his legacy? _ as a politician. how would you define his legacy? i _ as a politician. how would you define his legacy? i think- as a politician. how would you| define his legacy? i think what as a politician. how would you - define his legacy? i think what will define his legacy? i think what will define alexei _ define his legacy? i think what will define alexei navalny _ define his legacy? i think what will define alexei navalny as _ define his legacy? i think what will define alexei navalny as a - define alexei navalny as a politician in the eyes of people in russia and across the globe was his return to russia injanuary 2022 shortly after he had been nearly killed by poisoning as western laboratories established with military grade poison. he knew that he was going to be arrested upon arrival. he knew that when he is in jail in russia anything could happen to him there. possibly even death. he was asked about it at one point

when he said that if i am killed in jail that is going to be a sign of weakness on the government part. he knew the risks that he was taking and yet he went ahead and returned to russia from the safety of germany and i think that tells us so much about alexei navalny as a politician and as a human being. we about alexei navalny as a politician and as a human being.— about alexei navalny as a politician and as a human being. we are hearing from the un — and as a human being. we are hearing from the un human _ and as a human being. we are hearing from the un human rights _ and as a human being. we are hearing from the un human rights office, - from the un human rights office, they say we owe to the russian authorities to ensure a credible investigation into alexei navalny death, is carried out. what are the chances that we will ever actually know how he died? the? chances that we will ever actually know how he died?— know how he died? they are very slim. the fact _ know how he died? they are very slim. the fact is _ know how he died? they are very slim. the fact is that _ know how he died? they are very slim. the fact is that people - know how he died? they are veryj slim. the fact is that people have died in russian prisons, notoriously harsh ones. people have been killed in russian prisons. because the kremlin completely and fully

controls what is going on there and who investigates these deaths and how i don't think we are going to hear anything that would inconvenience the kremlin or cast it inconvenience the kremlin or cast it in a bad light at all. that is just how the system operates. what we have been seeing his a downward slide of russia's take under vladimir putin back when he came into power more than 20 years ago. there were various political parties, various political leaders who were able to credibly challenge vladimir putin and to know if it is true, and it is a big if, that alexei navalny had been allowed to die in jail alexei navalny had been allowed to die injail and killed that would be less for political advantage but because the authorities, can, given

the tight control the exercise over everything that is how it was in the soviet union and that is what they are reverting back. the relationship with the west. _ are reverting back. the relationship with the west, particularly - are reverting back. the relationship with the west, particularly the - are reverting back. the relationship with the west, particularly the us i with the west, particularly the us has with russia, do you think vladimir putin really cares about what the international reaction is? does he care that the un says it is appalled? i does he care that the un says it is a- alled? ., �* , ~ does he care that the un says it is analled? ., �* , ~ ., , does he care that the un says it is analled? , ~ ., , ., , appalled? i don't sink does really. the west is _ appalled? i don't sink does really. the west is running _ appalled? i don't sink does really. the west is running out _ appalled? i don't sink does really. the west is running out of- appalled? i don't sink does really. the west is running out of tools i appalled? i don't sink does really. the west is running out of tools of pressure to apply towards russia after all that has happened in russia and across the globe. all of these atrocities that are being blamed on vladimir putin's government. starting with the invasion of ukraine in 2014 and government. starting with the invasion of ukraine in 20 ia and the shooting down of a aeroplane on the

uncountable deaths of your ukrainians. what else will it take to get the west to apply even more pressure on vladimir putin? there's been so much tragedy and grief that this tragically is unlikely to force the west to rethink its complete attitude towards vladimir putin's russia. let attitude towards vladimir putin's russia. , ., ., attitude towards vladimir putin's russia. , . ., , ., russia. let us have a listen to velodymyr — russia. let us have a listen to volodymyr zelensky? - russia. let us have a listen to volodymyr zelensky? we - russia. let us have a listen to | volodymyr zelensky? we have russia. let us have a listen to - volodymyr zelensky? we have just volodymyr zelensky? we have 'ust heard that alexei i volodymyr zelensky? we have 'ust heard that alexei navalny �* volodymyr zelensky? we have 'ust heard that alexei navalny has h volodymyr zelensky? we have just heard that alexei navalny has just| heard that alexei navalny has just died in _ heard that alexei navalny has just died in a _ heard that alexei navalny has just died in a russian prison, obviously he was _ died in a russian prison, obviously he was killed by putin like thousands of others who have been tormented — thousands of others who have been tormented and tortured because of this one _ tormented and tortured because of this one person. putin does not care who dies, _ this one person. putin does not care who dies, as — this one person. putin does not care who dies, as long as he retains his position— who dies, as long as he retains his position and — who dies, as long as he retains his position and that is why he must not

keep anything. putin must lose everything. he must not retain anything. _ everything. he must not retain anything, he must be held accountable for what he has done. we were accountable for what he has done. - were listening there to ukraine's president. another question when we look at the relationship between the west and russia, is the war in ukraine. there has been a lot of conversations about us funding which has stalled in the house of representatives. how is this going to change the equation when it comes to change the equation when it comes to that? we to change the equation when it comes to that? ~ ., ., , ., to that? we have to remember that it is tra . ic, to that? we have to remember that it is tragic, devastating, _ to that? we have to remember that it is tragic, devastating, that _ to that? we have to remember that it is tragic, devastating, that alexei - is tragic, devastating, that alexei navalny has died but in practical terms it is unlikely i would argue that it will change much on the ground within russia from the point of view of next months presidential

elections or across the globe because so much has happened in ukraine. so much devastation has been caused by russian forces there that i wouldn't argue that it is going to be the last straw that will suddenly unite the west in its support for ukraine. volodymyr zelensky is not exactly in independent observer of this. he has been arguing for almost two years now that vladimir putin's mentor is notjust now that vladimir putin's mentor is not just a threat to ukraine now that vladimir putin's mentor is notjust a threat to ukraine but also to the west and two russians as well. we have seen key critics of vladimir putin, they have been silenced in so many ways. one was shot dead outside the kremlin in 2015. others were forced into exile, fined, orjailed. this is again

tragically is not an event that is going to cause a massive change of fortunes for any of the players involved in this conflict.- fortunes for any of the players involved in this conflict. thank you very much — involved in this conflict. thank you very much for— involved in this conflict. thank you very much for taking _ involved in this conflict. thank you very much for taking us _ involved in this conflict. thank you very much for taking us through i involved in this conflict. thank you very much for taking us through a | very much for taking us through a lot of different angles on this developing story and of course we will have you back on bbc news in a short while. the foreign minister to parliament gave his reaction to our chief international correspondent at that munich security conference. mi; that munich security conference. m heart goes that munich security conference. mg heart goes out to alexei navalny's heart goes out to alexei navalny�*s family and all those russian democrats who he was a hero for. he is a victim of russian fascism and he will probably be remembered as the best president of russia that russia will never have.— the best president of russia that russia will never have. some have commented _ russia will never have. some have commented that _ russia will never have. some have commented that it _ russia will never have. some have commented that it was _ russia will never have. some have commented that it was not - russia will never have. some have commented that it was not a - russia will never have. some have| commented that it was not a shock and just a matter of time. he had

been moved to harsh conditions in the penal connelly in the arctic circle. was that your worry as you watch from afar?— circle. was that your worry as you watch from afar? putin has said to death squads _ watch from afar? putin has said to death squads to _ watch from afar? putin has said to death squads to western - watch from afar? putin has said to death squads to western europe, | death squads to western europe, alexei navalny challenged him. he was behind brave. not only in facing up was behind brave. not only in facing up to the russian dictator but also in telling the russian people what they perhaps did not want to hear. namely that the invasion of ukraine was a mistake and that russia needs to withdraw to the international border and the future democratic russia needs to pay reparations to ukraine. to say this to your electorate. it takes real political courage. taste electorate. it takes real political couraue. ~ ., electorate. it takes real political couraue. . . ., ., courage. we are waiting for the russian authorities _ courage. we are waiting for the russian authorities to - courage. we are waiting for the russian authorities to explain l courage. we are waiting for the - russian authorities to explain what happened. we had from the prison so this is that he went for a walk and felt faint and fell unconscious and then he died. in your mind is there any doubt about what killed him? he:

did nothing wrong, he was imprisoned forfake, on fake did nothing wrong, he was imprisoned for fake, on fake charges. did nothing wrong, he was imprisoned forfake, on fake charges. even if nobody pulled the trigger we know that it was the conditions that were created for him that killed him in those conditions were the responsibility of vladimir putin. in your very busy schedule here you were to meet the wife of alexei navalny, why was it important for you to have that on your agenda, she is now a widow?— is now a widow? because we poland were once dissidents _ is now a widow? because we poland were once dissidents under- is now a widow? because we poland were once dissidents under a - were once dissidents under a autocracy and we needed the solidarity of friends in the free world and therefore we feel solidarity for those who are battling for freedom and democracy in countries that are now less fortunate than us and it is particularly difficult to be a

democrat in putin's russia. there are now more political prisoners in russia, around 3000 others than in the soviet union. russia is now a really harsh dictatorship that is prosecuting a genocidal war in ukraine. , , prosecuting a genocidal war in ukraine. , _ ., ukraine. this must create concern for many. — ukraine. this must create concern for many. one _ ukraine. this must create concern for many, one went _ ukraine. this must create concern for many, one went back- ukraine. this must create concern for many, one went back to - ukraine. this must create concern| for many, one went back to russia knowing that they would face a fate as difficult as this. he knowing that they would face a fate as difficult as this.— as difficult as this. he will one da be as difficult as this. he will one day be in _ as difficult as this. he will one day be in russian _ as difficult as this. he will one day be in russian textbooks i as difficult as this. he will one | day be in russian textbooks as as difficult as this. he will one i day be in russian textbooks as a martyr to democracy. haifa day be in russian textbooks as a martyr to democracy.— day be in russian textbooks as a martyr to democracy. how do you think it will _ martyr to democracy. how do you think it will affect _ martyr to democracy. how do you think it will affect the _ martyr to democracy. how do you think it will affect the discussions| think it will affect the discussions here, already support for ukraine, the worry about the military situation there, is dominating the agenda, does this deepen any concern on that front? taste agenda, does this deepen any concern on that front?— on that front? we were here two ears on that front? we were here two years ago. _ on that front? we were here two years ago. when _ on that front? we were here two years ago, when we _ on that front? we were here two years ago, when we weren't - on that front? we were here two j years ago, when we weren't sure on that front? we were here two l years ago, when we weren't sure if president zelensky would attend

because the invasion was imminent and the airspace over ukraine might have been closed. today the mood is also sombre because we are at a tipping point. both in ukraine where the brave ukrainian army has outgunned, and in washington where the fate of the assistant package for ukraine is in the balance, i therefore appeal to us congressman, particularly to speaker mike johnson, to let this bill go to the vote, let us help to ukrainians who are resisting vladimir putin who has just killed alexei navalny. fiur just killed alexei navalny. our thanks to... — just killed alexei navalny. our thanks to... this _ just killed alexei navalny. our thanks to... this major breaking news, just to say that we are staying with this story. absolutely

dominating the agenda after news broke that alexei navalny, a7—year—old arch critic of vladimir putin has died, the russian prison service putting out a statement on details. in the last few hours since that news emerged an avalanche of international reaction and condemnation with so many people pointing the finger at vladimir putin saying ultimately russia and vladimir putin are responsible. we saw alexei navalny only yesterday video footage of him in a court appearance and yet details are emerging of his death in the last few hours. just to guide you through what we are going to do over the next few hours on our programme, verified life, there is reaction coming in all the time. we are bound to get some major news conferences in the next few hours. we will talk

to a arch long—time critic of vladimir putin, will speak tojohn simpson, a world affairs editor on the programme in the next little while so as i say that story will dominate our coverage here for the next few hours. you are watching bbc news. live from london. this is bbc news. russia's prison service says the jailed opposition figure alexei navalny has died. he was vladimir putin's most vociferous critic — this was him in court yesterday. navalny�*s wife made this defiant statment in the last hour. navalny�*s wife made this defiant statement in the last hour. translation: i know that putin and all his allies, all his friends, | all his government know that they will be held responsible for what they have done with our country, with my husband.

we'll talk live on the programme — to the long—time putin critic, bill browder. we'll also hear reaction and condemnation from world leaders. we should hold putin accountable for this and no—one should be in any doubt about the dreadful nature of putin's regime in russia after what has just happened. ..confirmed this would be a further sign of putin's brutality. we'll bring you all the latest details, news conferences and analysis from global capitals — we'll also talk to our bbc editors and corrospondents about the man who took on putin. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala. welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. hello and welcome to verified live —

our programme today — dominated by that news from russia — that the jailed politcial activist,