repeating is responsible for alexei — repeating is responsible for alexei navalnys death. —— putin _ defy a public ban on gathering for navalny to lay flowers, and honour his memory. hello. i'm caitriona perry. welcome to this bbc news special report. russia's most prominent opposition leader alexei navalny, has died in prison — according to the country's prison service. his cause of death is not yet known — but world leaders are already pointing the finger at the kremlin — an accusation russia has strongly denied. navalny, a fierce kremlin critic, was serving a prison sentence in a russian penal colony. this was the last time he was seen alive publicly looking gaunt and emaciated via a video link. member of alexei navalny�*s team put out a statement saying, in part, "navalny always believed in russia and our people. he never gave up. that was always his main message — do not give up, do not be afraid, there are many of us, and we will win." his wife, yulia had a warning

for the russian president. i know that putin, all his allies, all his friends would be responsible. i want putin and his whole entourage to know that they will be held responsible for everything they have done to our country, to my family, and to my husband. alexei navalny was acutely aware people wanted him dead. in a documentary focused on an attempt to poison him with the deadly nerve agent novichok, navalny was asked what his message would be for the russian people, if he was killed. my my message, the situation when i am killed, my message, the situation when iam killed, is my message, the situation when i am killed, is very simple. do not give up. with me is will vernon, our correspondent who spent many years reporting on russia and alexei navalny.

we saw these dramatic images of when alexei navalny returned to russia, could you tell us about that iconic moment? my colleagues and i were in moscow airports and he'd been recovering from a poisoning in germany. and there were thousands of his supporters overwhelming the arrivals hall. his plane was diverted to another airport so the whole plane of people sent to another part of moscow and it soon became clear to us, and we were left there scratching your head, but we soon realise why they'd done this because as soon as alexei navalny got off the plane he was arrested at passport control and he remained in custody from then on. but i suspect the authorities had got nervous, moving him from the airport. concerns that arresting russia's most prominent opposition could be

problematic. opposition could be -roblematic. , �* problematic. president biden has described _ problematic. president biden has described him _ problematic. president biden has described him as - problematic. president biden has described him as brave, l has described him as brave, engaging. what was he like? he was a very engaging man. an excellent public speaker. his speeches were entertaining to listen to. he was funny, he didn't lose his sense of humour despite all his trials, literally trials, and accusations that were thrown at him. he was very courageous. a brave man and that's what we have heard a lot today in the tributes paid to him, how brave he was and that decision to return to russia in 2021 was an incredibly courageous thing to do. he was also very good at persuading people. i remember being on a campaign trail with him in the mountains and a group of pro—kremlin grannies appeared at the door, calling him all manner of names. he asked for the door to be open to let them in to talk to them. so they were letting. he talked to them, calmed them down. even managed to convince them

of his point of view. what has been the reaction in russia? many people have been bringing flowers. but the russian media havejust made a simple statement or avoided portraying it. all independent media in russia has been either or blocked. thousands of alexei navalnys own supporters have been put in prison orfled navalnys own supporters have been put in prison or fled the country. as we know, if you go out and protest in russia, you will almost certainly be arrested so people are too scared to go out and protest.

as you would expect, there's been reaction from a number of world leaders — many of them learning of the news while at a key security conference in munich. make no mistake, putin is responsible for navalny's death. putin is responsible. we should hold putin accountable for this and we should be under no doubt about the regime in russia.— the regime in russia. russia has serious _ the regime in russia. russia has serious questions - the regime in russia. russia has serious questions to - has serious questions to answer _ has serious questions to answer. alexei - has serious questions to answer. alexei navalnyl has serious questions to i answer. alexei navalny has has serious questions to - answer. alexei navalny has been answer. alexei navalny has been a strong — answer. alexei navalny has been a strong voice _ answer. alexei navalny has been a strong voice for— answer. alexei navalny has been a strong voice for freedom - answer. alexei navalny has been a strong voice for freedom and l a strong voice for freedom and democracy— a strong voice for freedom and democracy for— a strong voice for freedom and democracy for years— a strong voice for freedom and democracy for years and - a strong voice for freedom and democracy for years and many| democracy for years and many people — democracy for years and many people had _ democracy for years and many people had called _ democracy for years and many people had called for- democracy for years and many people had called for his - people had called for his immediate _ people had called for his immediate release - people had called for his immediate release for. people had called for his immediate release for al people had called for his - immediate release for a long time — immediate release for a long time. ., . , .,, immediate release for a long time. ., ., . time. the world has lost a freedom _ time. the world has lost a freedom fighter _ time. the world has lost a freedom fighter in - time. the world has lost a freedom fighter in alexei l freedom fighter in alexei navalny. we will honour his name — navalny. we will honour his name and in his name, we will stand — name and in his name, we will stand up— name and in his name, we will stand up for democracy and for balance — stand up for democracy and for balance. , ., stand up for democracy and for balance. , . ., , ., balance. repeating does not care who _ balance. repeating does not care who dies _ balance. repeating does not care who dies as _ balance. repeating does not care who dies as long - balance. repeating does not care who dies as long as - balance. repeating does not care who dies as long as hel care who dies as long as he retained his position. he must not keep anything. he must lose everything. he must not retain

anything and be accountable for what he has done. earlier i spoke with kurt volker — a former ambassador to nato — who is also in munich for the security conference. i got his reaction to alexei navalny's death. thanks for being with us. you are at the munich security conference. the news breaking this morning about alexei navalny. is it surprising to you? navalny. is it surprising to ou? ., . . . ~' navalny. is it surprising to ou? ., . . . ,, you? not at all. we knew he was in the russian _ you? not at all. we knew he was in the russian prison _ you? not at all. we knew he was in the russian prison system. . in the russian prison system. they have tried to kill him a few times before. they've deliberately put in such conditions of confinement so they could damage his health and see if they could break him. so the fact he died in prison is not a surprise. it should be a wake—up call for the west and for anyone who seeks to see a better world, a better russia, better security for europe. this is the nature of the government regime. we

can't pretend any more or deny it. this is an abusive, authoritarian leader who is forcing aggression upon his neighbours. . forcing aggression upon his neighbours-_ neighbours. , echoing your thoughts. _ neighbours. , echoing your thoughts, president - neighbours. , echoing your thoughts, president biden| neighbours. , echoing your. thoughts, president biden has said that putin is responsible. when someone dies in state custody the presumption is that the state is responsible. will there be an independent investigation into what has happened here?— investigation into what has happened here? investigation into what has hauened here? , ., , . happened here? there is no such thin in happened here? there is no such thing in russia, _ happened here? there is no such thing in russia, an _ happened here? there is no such thing in russia, an independent i thing in russia, an independent investigation. there may be a facade of one to create a purity but no one will give it any serious investigation. was he poisoned in some way? did it bring on a stroke intentionally? was he taken out

for walks at five in the morning or kept in a cold, solitary cell that could have damaged his system. this damaged his system. as president _ damaged his system. as president biden said, someone in the custody of the state is the state's responsibility and the state's responsibility and the fact that this has happened makes the state responsible. let alone the fact that they actually deliberately put him into stressful conditions. imilli into stressful conditions. will they return — into stressful conditions. will they return the _ into stressful conditions. will they return the remains to his widow? �* , .. ., , they return the remains to his widow? �* , . , ., widow? it's actually to the arents widow? it's actually to the parents but _ widow? it's actually to the parents but there - widow? it's actually to the parents but there is - widow? it's actually to the parents but there is a - widow? it's actually to the parents but there is a rule| widow? it's actually to the l parents but there is a rule in russia that they are supposed to return the remains of a deceased citizen to the family and then the family can organise the burial and death this happens in moscow, you have to anticipate that they will be large, large demonstrations in support of

alexei navalny so this presents a conundrum for putin right now. , . ., , a conundrum for putin right now. , _, , ., now. given the comments from president _ now. given the comments from president biden, _ now. given the comments from president biden, what - now. given the comments from president biden, what do - now. given the comments from president biden, what do you l president biden, what do you expect the administration to do next? what his options here? the president should do many things. he should immediately demand the release of the journalist and report is currently held in the russian prison system because it could be life threatening to those two americans to remain detained in the russian prison system. there is also a russian dissident, a citizen, but a dissident, a citizen, but a dissident and we should demand that he is brought into a transparent, visible, safe and helpful penitentiary where he is being held, rather than the black hole he is in now. he

should be released as soon as possible, as well, under russian law.— possible, as well, under russian law. ., , russian law. there have been demands _ russian law. there have been demands for _ russian law. there have been demands for the _ russian law. there have been demands for the return - russian law. there have been demands for the return of - russian law. there have been i demands for the return of those individuals. what will change now? i individuals. what will change now? ~ �* , individuals. what will change now? ~' �* , . , now? i think there'd be demands for the return _ now? i think there'd be demands for the return and _ now? i think there'd be demands for the return and we _ now? i think there'd be demands for the return and we need - now? i think there'd be demands for the return and we need to - for the return and we need to step up a side of this argument and this is actually truly important. one way to do that is in the case of the people responsible for the death of alexei navalny, and perhaps in the case of people who are holding the two journalists, to start looking at the application so that the people, the actual people, the guards, the actual people, the guards, the prison supervisors, the whole system in russia, the change of command, if these

people die or are harmed on their watch then they are responsible and should be subject to sanctions on unprecedented scale. we should try to protect american citizens that are in russian custody,. citizens that are in russian custody. -_ citizens that are in russian custody,. citizens that are in russian custod ,. , ,. . custody,. does this change the ukraine package _ custody,. does this change the ukraine package in _ custody,. does this change the ukraine package in congress? | ukraine package in congress? it's been essential and urgent for a long time. the difficulties have not been about russia or ukraine, it's about russia or ukraine, it's about the southern border. now, what has happened is, both parties care greatly about how we handle the southern border and those disagreements have held up all the other issues. it's time we address the issue of the southern border together, pass a law, get it

done, or, if we can't do that, move on to these things that are of fundamental interest to americans anyway.— are of fundamental interest to americans anyway. thank you, us ambassador _ americans anyway. thank you, us ambassador to _ americans anyway. thank you, us ambassador to nato _ americans anyway. thank you, us ambassador to nato for _ americans anyway. thank you, us ambassador to nato forjoining i ambassador to nato for joining us ambassador to nato forjoining us on this series. we've seen an outpouring of support for mr navalny and his family around the world but in russia, putin has warned against demonstrations. russian state media calmly announced navalny's death earlier — here's the moment that it broke. vladimir putin's spokesman said russian's penitentiary service was looking into navalny's death but provided no further information. there are now reports of police detaining pro—navalny protestors in the streets — the bbc russian service says over 100 people have been detained so far, according to a human rights group in russia. let's talk now to

angela stent, a former state department national intelligence officer for russia and eurasia. now with the brookings institution. it's the russian presidential elections next month. what does it mean for opposition now in russia? it it mean for opposition now in russia? ., , it mean for opposition now in russia? . , ., russia? it means that the opposition _ russia? it means that the opposition has _ russia? it means that the opposition has been - russia? it means that the opposition has been even| russia? it means that the - opposition has been even more subdued. he's made sure there is no opposition. there were over 100,000 signatures necessarily to be on the ballot. i looked at the video of putin today in conference. he looked supremely self—confident. he's looking forward to re—election where they are hoping he will get 80% of the vote and so his message

is that he is the popular great ruler of russia who has restored its greatness. given what has _ restored its greatness. given what has happened - restored its greatness. given what has happened to - restored its greatness. given what has happened to alexei j what has happened to alexei navalny and those who have opposed him in the past who have died or are in prison, is that anyone likely to emerge in the future as opposition to putin. ,, ., the future as opposition to putin. ., the future as opposition to putin, ., ., putin. so, at the moment, there's no _ putin. so, at the moment, there's no other _ putin. so, at the moment, | there's no other opposition leader in russia. it's a british subject who is in prison for 25 years but he didn't quite have the organisational following that alexei navalny had and all of the officials who worked for him have left the country. putin's other opposition are in

jail. we even saw tonight how people who were silently in putting flowers out at memorials to alexei navalny in different cities in russia, some of those were detained. there is no one on the horizon who could fulfil the role that alexei navalny fulfilled and i doubt that they will be all the while putin remains in power. we've heard international outcry from many world leaders, russia is a ready subject to sanctions. there is a warrant out for the president's arrest. what impact does it have on president putin? it what impact does it have on president putin?— president putin? it has very little impact. _ president putin? it has very little impact. he's - president putin? it has very little impact. he's able - president putin? it has very little impact. he's able to l little impact. he's able to travel to countries in the middle east. there have been many western sanctions,

european, western sanctions on russia and they do not seem to have had the desired impact. we heard about the global magnetism, it's very hard to think of anything the west could do now to deter putin. the only thing they could do and should do and that comes back to the united states congress is to pass the $60 billion assistance and supply ukraine with weapons. so the best way to counter putin is to support ukrainians and hope that they can successfully push back the russians from ukraine. speaking of russia's in ukraine, one of our guests said that one of the troops has withdrawn from the eastern city

to avoid encirclement, changing the front. ~ ., , to avoid encirclement, changing the front. ~ . , . ,, the front. what is happening there? the _ the front. what is happening there? the russians - the front. what is happening there? the russians have i the front. what is happening i there? the russians have come in because the ukrainians there are weaker now because the supply from the united states has not materialised. it a brutal war of attrition. the russians are getting more aggressive and they have taken some territory in the past few months so the situation for ukraine looks pretty grim this year, particularly if it does not get us assistance. we are da s not get us assistance. we are days away — not get us assistance. we are days away from _ not get us assistance. we are days away from the _ not get us assistance. we are days away from the second i days away from the second anniversary of russia's invasion. do you think it's got longer to run? i invasion. do you think it's got longer to run?— longer to run? i think putin is waitin: longer to run? i think putin is waiting to _ longer to run? i think putin is waiting to see _ longer to run? i think putin is waiting to see what _ longer to run? i think putin is waiting to see what will- longer to run? i think putin is l waiting to see what will happen in the us elections even though he is said contradictory things about president biden and possible future president

trump. russia gets its supplies from north korea, china, which the ukrainians haven't been able to do yet sol the ukrainians haven't been able to do yet so i don't see any end in sight for this war this year. any end in sight for this war this year-— any end in sight for this war this ear. �* , . , ., this year. briefly, what should rlobal this year. briefly, what should global leaders _ this year. briefly, what should global leaders do _ this year. briefly, what should global leaders do who - this year. briefly, what should global leaders do who want i this year. briefly, what should global leaders do who want to | global leaders do who want to try and raining putin? supporting ukraine is the most important, i think, supporting ukraine is the most important, ithink, and no normalisation of relationships with russia. spending more on defence and being able to contain any possible future russian aggression.- contain any possible future russian aggression. thank you forjoining _ russian aggression. thank you forjoining us— russian aggression. thank you forjoining us on _ russian aggression. thank you forjoining us on bbc— russian aggression. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. i we mentiond a little earlier

that moscow authorities have banned any protests in the city — but that hasn't stopped navalny's supporters from coming out — to commemorate him. mourners laid flowers and candles at this memorial in moscow throughout the day. protesters were hauled away by police several times — this woman was attested for holding up a sign calling the kremlin �*murderers'. the demostrations weren't limited to moscow — these are scenes from russia's second city, st petersburg. and in kazan, protestors commemorated mr navalny by writing his name in the snow. there have also been protests around the world, including here in washington — where hundreds of people gathered outside the russian embassy to pay their respects to alexei navalny and speak out against putin. among those in the crowd was grigory vaypan, a russian human rights lawyer and democracy fellow with the centre for european policy analysis. hejoins me now in the studio. thank you forjoining us. what

do you expect to see in russia over the next few days? it’s do you expect to see in russia over the next few days?- over the next few days? it's a tra . ic over the next few days? it's a tragic moment _ over the next few days? it's a tragic moment for _ over the next few days? it's a tragic moment for russia - over the next few days? it's a tragic moment for russia and j tragic moment for russia and the russian people. we've seen all across the country. people were coming out to pay tribute to alexei navalny and lay flowers. it's a very difficult thing to do in wartime russia. rallies are mostly bound in any criticism of the president and the war exposes the people to severe punishment. in addition to that, many people who oppose putin and the war have left the country, including myself. at some point after russia's full—scale invasion. protest directed at the russian government is being scattered all across the world but fewer people have stayed inside of russia and side that

complicates any strong voice of condemnation. we heard kurt volker say earlier that he would expect to see demonstrations whenever alexei navalny 5 body is released to his parents in russia, how will kremlin handle that? they will try to organise the funeral in a way that is as discreetly as possible. we've seen when a famous russian mutineer, head of the waggoner group died, russian authorities orchestrated a hole cover of his funeral. so people did not know when it was going to take place, until it was over. alexei navalny was aware that his life was in danger. he

spoke about that. will we know and his family ever know what happened to him? i and his family ever know what happened to him?— and his family ever know what happened to him? i hope so and i think happened to him? i hope so and i think it's _ happened to him? i hope so and i think it's crucial _ happened to him? i hope so and i think it's crucial for _ happened to him? i hope so and i think it's crucial for the - i think it's crucial for the international community to demand a full, impartial investigation into his death. we can see the russian government is incapable ball and unwilling to do that. i think it's essential for the free world to not limit itself to statements of condemnation but to demand a full investigation. it's the international organisations such as the un who should take the lead because they are experts of access to russia so to get access to alexei navalny's body, his files. we have had the united nations

human rights council who have a mandate to invade investigate such —— investigate such incidents. it's a moment in the international community to step up international community to step up its response because alexei navalny has sacrificed everything he has, for his country, his people, and now is the time for all of us and, for the time for all of us and, for the entire world, to step up, notjust the entire world, to step up, not just to express condemnation but do notjust to express condemnation but do something more. ., condemnation but do something more. . ., ,, more. there are other us citizens — more. there are other us citizens detained - more. there are other us citizens detained in - more. there are other us i citizens detained in russia. what would they feel today? their lives are obviously at risk and i think the russian government, putin specifically sends out a clear message that

no one is safe in these prisons because what we are seeing now, what we are witnessing today, is the first time that a prisoner, the first time in soviet russia, —— post—soviet russia, where everything was intentionally tortured to death. it's a chilling moment to realise. we should bear that in mind. ., ., i. to realise. we should bear that in mind. ., ., ,, ~' to realise. we should bear that in mind. ., ., 4' . in mind. how do you think what has happened _ in mind. how do you think what has happened feeds _ in mind. how do you think what has happened feeds into - in mind. how do you think what has happened feeds into what l in mind. how do you think what i has happened feeds into what we were discussing their earlier about the war in ukraine, the offensive there.— offensive there. alexei navalny's _ offensive there. alexei navalny's death - offensive there. alexei j navalny's death comes offensive there. alexei i navalny's death comes at offensive there. alexei - navalny's death comes at a critical moment for putin. western support for ukraine is a bit shaky and what i think putin wants is for his country

to lose hope, he also wants the world to lose hope. as far as he's concerned, he is going to stay forever. the best the world can do is to support ukraine at the moment. fiur ukraine at the moment. our coverage — ukraine at the moment. our coverage continues - ukraine at the moment. our coverage continues online. thanks for watching. stay with us here on bbc one. hello, there. once again, it's been another week that's been dominated by some wet weather at times, but when we have had the sunshine, it's felt pleasant enough. and some of us on friday had a beautiful scene, just like carmarthenshire. hope you made the most of it, though, because particularly out to the west, the start of the weekend looks decidedly unsettled, with more wet and windy weather arriving. ahead of it, we'll see quite a lot of cloud, and the cloud thick enough for a spot or two of light drizzle that'll be easing away from north—east england and eastern scotland. misty, murky conditions behind, and then some heavy rain by the middle part of the afternoon.

so a west—east divide as we go through the day. some of the rain will be quite heavy, still quite mild with it, 1a degrees. and you can see across south—east england and east of the pennines, we may well continue to see some brief glimpses of sunshine. but the rain through wales, stretching up through north—west england, northern ireland and western scotland will turn increasingly heavy, accompanied by gusts of winds potentially around a0 mph. a little bit fresher as well into the north—east of scotland, but generally that mild theme set to continue. now, as we go through saturday evening and into the early hours of sunday morning, our weather front will continue to sink its way steadily south and east. the heaviest of the rain is likely to be now through the midlands and down towards south—east england, and that's going to take its time to clear. so during the early hours of sunday morning, expect a spell of wet weather. that'll probably still be there across east anglia and south—east england for early birds on sunday, but it will start to ease away through the middle part of the morning. a few scattered showers tucking in behind, and then sunday

generally will be a case of sunny spells, a few isolated showers and still relatively mild for this stage in february, 10—14 degrees the high. now, as we move out of sunday into the new working week, once again we will see spells of wet weather at times. brief drier interludes to follow, but by the middle part of the week, we'll see a spell of particularly wet and windy weather right across the country. and that will have an impact on the feel of the weather. we'll lose that mild south—westerly flow, a north—westerly returns, cooler story for all from midweek onwards. so planning ahead, might be a mild, relatively sunny start, but it'll be wet and windy through the middle part of the week and then colder air to follow behind.

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