for navalny to lay flowers and honour his memory. hello, i'm caitriona perry. 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 videolink. member of alexei navalny�*s team put out a statement saying, in part: his wife yulia had a warning

for the russian president. translation: i know that putin and all his allies, - all his friends, all his government know that they would be responsible for what has happened with our country, with 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 message for the situation when i am killed is very simple — not give up. earlier, i spoke with will vernon, our correspondent who has spent many years reporting on russia and alexei navalny. talk to was about that return to russia. how dramatic was that? it to russia. how dramatic was that? ., , to russia. how dramatic was that? ., w, ., ,

that? it was an extraordinary da in that? it was an extraordinary day in russia. _ that? it was an extraordinary day in russia. me _ that? it was an extraordinary day in russia. me and - that? it was an extraordinary day in russia. me and my. day in russia. me and my colleagues were in one of the main moscow airport waiting for alexei navalny to return from germany. he'd been recovering there from the poisoning you've mentioned and there were dozens ofjournalists mentioned and there were dozens of journalists there, mentioned and there were dozens ofjournalists there, thousands ofjournalists there, thousands of alexei navalny�*s supporters had gathered and as we were waiting, in the last minute, his plane diverted to another airport so whole plane full of people suddenly being sent to the other of moscow. of course, onceit the other of moscow. of course, once it landed and alexei navalny came out of the plane, he was instantly arrested at passport control and it was clear why they had diverted the plane— obviously, they were nervous about all the many thousands of people who had overwhelmed the arrivals hall, all of the entrances to the airport. it was a bitterly cold day. concerned that perhaps arresting russia's most prominent opposition leader with all of those people that may not be a good idea but of course, he remained in custody from then on, until what we saw happen today. from then on, until what we saw happen today-—

happen today. president biden has described _ happen today. president biden has described him _ happen today. president biden has described him as - happen today. president biden has described him as brave, i happen today. president bideni has described him as brave, as principled. what was he like? he was a very engaging person. he was a very engaging person. he was a very engaging person. he was an excellent public speaker. it was funny. we saw him, write, maintain his sense of humour right until the court appearance yesterday. he was very good at convincing people, actually. i remember once when we were on the campaign trail with alexei navalny, launched a bid for the presidency, believe it or not, back in 2016. we were at one of his campaign hq in the ural mountains region and all of a sudden, there was this banging at the door and a kind of gaggle of pro—kremlin grannies had turned up, banging on the door, calling alexei navalny all kinds of names but he asked for the door to be open so they could be let in and he could talk to them. and he managed to calm them down and even convince them of his point of view, he was very good with people and very good at convincing. with people and very good at convincing-— with people and very good at convincin-. ~ ., �* , ., convincing. what's the reaction been like in — convincing. what's the reaction been like in russia _ convincing. what's the reaction been like in russia today - convincing. what's the reaction been like in russia today to - been like in russia today to this development?- been like in russia today to this development? well, people, as ou this development? well, people, as you mentioned, _ this development? well, people, as you mentioned, have - this development? well, people,

as you mentioned, have been - as you mentioned, have been bringing flowers. in moscow, many other cities. 0n state—co ntrolled many other cities. 0n state—controlled tv, there wasn't really very much about this. the channels in the evening bulletins either ignore this mentioned it very briefly with a kind of statement buried down the bulletins i think a lot of people won't even know this has and, of course, almost all independent media in russia has either been shut down or blocked and you know thousands of alexei navalny�*s wn supporters have either been put in prison or have fled the country, adding to that as we know if you go out and protest in russia, you will almost certainly be arrested so many people are simply too scared to go out and protest. we people are simply too scared to go out and protest.— go out and protest. we will be talkin: go out and protest. we will be talking about _ go out and protest. we will be talking about that _ go out and protest. we will be talking about that a _ go out and protest. we will be talking about that a little - talking about that a little later in the programme. will vernon, thank you for all of that. thank you forjoining us. 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. the british government said it has summoned representatives of the russian embassy to make clear it held russian

authorities "fully responsible" for the death of navalny. make no mistake — putin is responsible for navalny�*s death. putin is responsible. what has happened to not only is yet more proof of putin's brutality. —— what has happened to navalny is yet more proof of putin's brutality. we should hold putin accountable for this and we should be under no doubt about the regime in russia. russia has serious . questions to answer. alexei navalny has been i a strong voice for freedom, for democracy for many yearsl and nato and nato allies has — have called for his immediate release for a long time. - the world has lost a freedom fighter in alexei navalny. we will honour his name.

and in his name, we will stand up for democracy and for our values. translation: putin does not care 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. he must be held 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. kurt voler, thanks for being with us. you are at the munich security conference there, the news breaking this morning about alexei navalny. it is shocking but is it surprising to you? not at all. we knew he was in the russian prison system. they had tried to kill him a few times before. and they've deliberately put him into such conditions of confinement that they were deliverately trying to 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 that this is the nature of the putin regime. we can't pretend any more or deny it — this is an abusive, authoritarian leader and one who is foisting aggression upon his neighbours and none of us will ever be safe again until the government of russia is replaced. echoing your thoughts, president biden has said putin is responsible. when someone dies in state custody the presumption is that the state is responsible. will there be an independent investigation, though, into what has happened here? there is no such thing in russia, there is no such thing as an independent investigation. there may be a facade of some

kind of investigation just to create appearances but no—one will given any serious investigation. was he poisoned in some way? did they bring on a stroke intentionally? was he taken out for walks at 5:00 in the morning or kept in a cold, solitary cell that could have damaged his system? as president biden said, someone in the custody of the state is 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. is there an expectation that roshai will return the remains of alexei navalny to his widow? yes, there is. it's actually to the parents. but there is a rule in russia, that they are supposed to return the remains of a deceased citizen to the family and the family can organise the burial. and if this happens in moscow, you have to anticipate that they will be

large, large demonstrations in support of navalny in moscow if they did that, so this presents a conundrum for putin right now. given the tone of the comments from president biden today, what do you expect the administration to do next? what are his options here? well, the president should do many things. he should immediately demand the return piece of paul whelan and evan gershkovich, the wall street reporter. it could be life—threatening to those two americans to remain detained in the russian prison system. they should be released immediately. there is also another russian dissident, a viriginia citizen, kara—murza, and we should demand that he is brought

into a transparent, visible, safe and healthful penitentiary where he is being held, rather than the black hole he is in now. so so that we are all sure that he is in good health. he should be released as soon as possible, as well, under russian law. there have been demands made for the return of those individuals. at least for paul whelan and evan gershkovich. what will change now? honestly, i think the demand for their returns have not been energetic, forceful and attached to penalties and i think we need to step up our side of this argument. this is actually truly important. 0ne actually truly important. one way to do that is in the case of the people responsible for the death of novelli and perhaps in the case of people who are holding gaskets and paul whelan and kara—murza to start to look at the application of the magnitsky act so that the people, the

actual people, the guard, the prison supervisors, the whole system in russia up the chain of command, if these people died or are harmed on their watch them they are responsible and they would be subject to sanctions under the magnitsky act and that's something we should be doing now, in the case of those responsible for the death of navalny and threatening now so that we tried to protect the american citizens that are in russian custody as well as mr kara—murza. custody as well as mr kara-murza.- custody as well as mr kara-murza. . , , , kara-murza. finally, briefly, does this _ kara-murza. finally, briefly, does this change _ kara-murza. finally, briefly, does this change the - kara-murza. finally, briefly, | does this change the impetus around us congress passing the aid package for ukraine? in around us congress passing the aid package for ukraine?- aid package for ukraine? in my view, it aid package for ukraine? in my view. it has _ aid package for ukraine? in my view, it has been _ aid package for ukraine? in my view, it has been essential- aid package for ukraine? in my view, it has been essential andj view, it has been essential and urgent for a long time. the difficulties have not been about russia or ukraine. the difficulties have been about the southern border. what's happened is both parties care greatly about how we handle the southern border and those disagreements have held up all the other pieces of assistance. i do think it is time that we

either address the issue of the southern border together, pass a law, get it done and move on or if we cannot do that, move on with these other things that are fundamentally in american interests anyway but there's no reason for these things to be held up the way are today. we will leave _ held up the way are today. we will leave it _ held up the way are today. we will leave it there. kurt volker, thank you so much. 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. speaks russian. 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. for more on the reaction in russia and the wider fallout from the news of navalny�*s death, i spoke to angela stent, a former state department national intelligence officer for russia and eurasia. thanks indeed forjoining us. it's the russian presidential elections next month. what does the death of alexei navalny mean for opposition efforts? ~ ., , navalny mean for opposition efforts? ~ . , ., efforts? well, it means that the opposition _ efforts? well, it means that the opposition has - efforts? well, it means that the opposition has been - efforts? well, it means thatl the opposition has been even more subdued. i mean, putin has made sure there's no opposition. they denied boris nyjah huston who was the one candidate running on a anti—war stand and had over 100,000 signatures that were necessary to be on the ballot and the kremlin has said he cannot be on the ballot —— nadezhdin. so it will be putin and a couple of other people who represent pro—kremlin parties in the dumer anyway and i wanted a video of putin today at a conference and he looked supremely self—confident. he is

looking forward to a quote unquote pre—election where they hope that he will get 80% of the vote or probably announced that and so his message is he is the popular great ruler of russia who has restored its greatness. russia who has restored its greatnes— greatness. given what has happened _ greatness. given what has happened to _ greatness. given what has happened to alexei - greatness. given what has i happened to alexei navalny, what happened to those who opposed britain in the past, serco skrobo was poisoned, vladimir kara—murza is locked up, litvinenko, is there anyone who can emerge in the future as opposition? fist who can emerge in the future as opposition?— who can emerge in the future as o- osition? �* ., opposition? at the moment there is no other— opposition? at the moment there is no other opposition _ opposition? at the moment there is no other opposition leader - is no other opposition leader in russia. you've already heard about vladimir kara—murza who by the way is a british subject who is imprisoned for 25 years. he didn't quite have the organisation of a following that alexei navalny had. all of the officials who worked with navalny have left the country. 0ther supporters of his are in jail, as we already heard. and

there are other people in russia who remain in russia who oppose putin but they are quiet because they know that if they express their views publicly, going to be arrested and jailed. we even sought and i tell people who were silently putting flowers and memorials to novelli in different cities in russia, some of those people were also detained ——we even saw people. —— navalny. there is no—one on the horizon who could fulfil the role that navalny fulfilled and i doubt that they would be as long as britain remains in power. with further international outcry from many world leaders today, president britain and many elites in russia are already of course subject to sanctions and there is a warrant for the president's a rest from international criminal court but what impact does any of that have on president britain? it doesn't seem to have had many —— much of an impact because he is able to travel to countries like china, countries in the global south and the middle east that are not going

to fulfil the warrant and arrest him. there has been many western sanctions, european, us and asian sanctions on russia. they don't seem to have had the desired impact. we heard about the global magnitsky act from ambassador valcar, the global magnitsky act from ambassadorvalcar, it's the global magnitsky act from ambassador valcar, it's hard to think of anything that the west could do that would deter printed —— kurt volker. the only thing it could and should do, and this comes back to the us congress, is to pass the $60 billion of assistance and supplied ukraine with the advanced weapons that it needs when the european union has now voted and granted the 50 billion euros to ukraine, but that's mainly financial assistance, so the best way to counter putin is to support the ukrainians and hope that they can successfully push back the russians from ukraine. speaking of russia's _ russians from ukraine. speaking of russia's war _ russians from ukraine. speaking of russia's war in _ russians from ukraine. speaking of russia's war in ukraine, - russians from ukraine. speaking of russia's war in ukraine, we i of russia's war in ukraine, we have heard from the army chief alexander ciskei this evening that the troops have withdrawn

from the eastern city of a diva entirely to and encirclement. where is your reading of weather ukraine position is at this point —— 0leksandr syrskyi. it this point -- oleksandr syrskyi— this point -- oleksandr s rs i. , .,~ ., syrskyi. it is weaker now, the russians _ syrskyi. it is weaker now, the russians apparently - syrskyi. it is weaker now, the russians apparently have - syrskyi. it is weaker now, the i russians apparently have taken over a deep car. ukrainians lacked ammunition and that has been at the because the suppliers have not been coming from the west but particularly from the west but particularly from the west but particularly from the united states because of this hold—up so this is a very brutal war of attrition —— avdiivka. the russians are getting more aggressive and they have taken some more territory in the past few months. the situation for ukraine looks pretty grim this year, especially if it doesn't get the us assistance. £31 get the us assistance. of course. _ get the us assistance. of course. we _ get the us assistance. of course, we are days away from the second anniversary of russia's invasion into ukraine. do you see that it has many more months if not longer to run? i more months if not longer to run? ~ , more months if not longer to run? ~' , ., run? i think putin is waiting to see what _ run? i think putin is waiting to see what happens - run? i think putin is waiting to see what happens in - run? i think putin is waiting to see what happens in the | to see what happens in the elections in the united states in november. even though he

said contradictory things in the last few days about president biden, about future president trump. the war is certainly going to continue throughout 202a. the russians get their ammunition supplies more and more from the north koreans, bigger drones from the iranians, their manufacturing their own weapons now on a scale that ukrainians haven't been able do yet, so i don't see any end in sight for this war this year.— war this year. and 'ust briefly. i war this year. and 'ust briefly, angela, h war this year. and just briefly, angela, whatl war this year. and just - briefly, angela, what should global leaders do who want to try to rein in vladimir putin? again, supporting ukraine i think is the most important. no normalisation of any kind of relations with russia. and then, building up their own defence centres, and i think europe particularly needs to do that. spending more on defence and being more able to contain any possible future russian aggression. any possible future russian aggression-— any possible future russian anression. �* ., ,, ., ., aggression. angela stanford, former state _ aggression. angela stanford, former state department - former state department national intelligence officer

for russia and eurasian and now with bookings, thank you so much. —— bookings. we mentioned 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 demonstrations 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 at that vigil was grigory vaypan, a russian human rights lawyer and democracy fellow with the centre for european policy analysis. hejoins me now in the studio.

what do you speak we will see in russia over the next few days, we have seen the laying of flowers and so on today? 0bviously of flowers and so on today? obviously it's a tragic moment for russia. and the russian people. we've seen that all across the country, people were coming out to pay tribute to alexei navalny and to lay flowers. a protest today in wartime russia is incredibly difficult and dangerous and carries enormous personal risks. rallies, public rallies are mostly banned. any criticism of the president and the war expose people to severe punishment. in addition to that, many people who oppose president putin and who opposed the war left the country, including myself. at some point after russia's full—scale invasion. and so, what we're seeing is actually protest at navalny�*s death, directed at the russian government is being scattered all across the world but actually, fewer people have

stayed inside of russia and that complicates any strong voice of condemnation. we heard kurt volker _ voice of condemnation. we heard kurt volker say — voice of condemnation. we heard kurt volker say a _ voice of condemnation. we heard kurt volker say a little _ kurt volker say a little earlier that whenever alexei navalny�*s body is returned to his parents that that is something that the kremlin will try to handle or to manage to avoid demonstrations. how do you think they may approach that? , ., , , , , that? obviously, they will try to organise — that? obviously, they will try to organise the _ that? obviously, they will try to organise the funeral- that? obviously, they will try to organise the funeral in - that? obviously, they will try to organise the funeral in a i to organise the funeral in a way that it happens as discreetly as possible. they will try to disperse any crowds as they take place. we've seen when a famous russian written near head of the wagner group gagosian died, authorities in fact orchestrated a whole cover—up of his funeral in st petersburg so the journalist and the public did not know when and where it will take place until it was over and we should expect something similar here, i believe. == should expect something similar here, i believe.— here, i believe. -- prigozhin. he was aware _

here, i believe. -- prigozhin. he was aware that _ here, i believe. -- prigozhin. he was aware that his - here, i believe. -- prigozhin. he was aware that his life - here, i believe. -- prigozhin. | he was aware that his life was in danger and had spoken about that. do you think we will ever know, will his family know what happened to him? i know, will his family know what happened to him?— know, will his family know what happened to him? i hope so, and i think it happened to him? i hope so, and i think it is _ happened to him? i hope so, and i think it is crucial _ happened to him? i hope so, and i think it is crucial at _ happened to him? i hope so, and i think it is crucial at this - i think it is crucial at this moment for the international community to demand a full and impartial investigation into his death. we've seen that the russian government is clearly incapable and unwilling to do such an investigation. we saw that several years ago in 2020 when alexei navalny was poisoned by a nerve agent. i think it is essential for the civilised world, for the free world do not limit itself to statements of condemnation but to demand a full investigation. it is the international organisations such as the united nations that should take the lead and insist that they have, the experts have access to russia, to visit the colony where navalny died, to get access to the files, access to his body. we have international bodies like for example the

united nations community against torture or the united nations you don't have council and they have a mandate to investigate such incidents and russia is a party to the united nations charter and to the convention against torture, they must co—operate. it convention against torture, they must co-operate. it still is a sovereign _ they must co-operate. it still is a sovereign state, - they must co-operate. it still is a sovereign state, though, | is a sovereign state, though, and from what we've seen past behaviour of president putin, he could refuse that.- behaviour of president putin, he could refuse that. yes, but it's a moment _ he could refuse that. yes, but it's a moment for _ he could refuse that. yes, but it's a moment for the - it's a moment for the international community to really step up its response because alexei navalny has sacrificed everything that he had, everything to his country and his people and now is the time for us, for all of us and for the entire world to step up and notjust express condemnation but do something more. ~ . condemnation but do something more, ~ ., ., condemnation but do something more. ~ . ., ., more. what about other individuals _ more. what about other individuals who - more. what about other individuals who are - more. what about other- individuals who are currently detained in russia? the other us citizens evan gershkovich and paul whelan and plenty of others as well. what is their fate like today?— fate like today? the lives obviously _ fate like today? the lives obviously at _ fate like today? the lives obviously at risk - fate like today? the lives obviously at risk and - fate like today? the lives obviously at risk and i - fate like today? the lives l obviously at risk and i think that the russian government of

vladimir putin specifically sends out a clear message that no—one is safe in his presence. how do you think what has happened today feeds into, as we were discussing, the war in ukraine and the offensive there? . ., ukraine and the offensive there? . . ., ukraine and the offensive there? .. ., , ukraine and the offensive there? . . ., there? navalny's death comes at a ivotal there? navalny's death comes at a pivotal moment _ there? navalny's death comes at a pivotal moment for _ there? navalny's death comes at a pivotal moment for everyone. l a pivotal moment for everyone. it's a moment where western support ukraine is a bit shaky and what one wants is for us to lose hope. he wants the russian people to lose hope and navalny was a symbol of hope, he was a symbol of resistance for russia and russian people and he also wants the world to lose hope, that you know, send a message that you know, send a message that he's going stay forever. i think the best the world can do is support ukraine at this moment. and remember, our coverage continues online. check out our website. you can find our live page with the latest news and analysis from our correspondents in the region,

and around the globe. that's all at bbc.com? news. stay with us here on bbc news. 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. 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. 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 southwesterly flow, a northwesterly 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.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines - for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. in pakistan, journalists say they are being assaulted... they started hitting my elbows, i've never had such pain in my life. �* , ~ i've never had such pain in my life. ~ , . ~ ., i've never had such pain in my life. �* , . . ., ., i've never had such pain in my life. ~, . ~ ., life. abducted... what do you know about — life. abducted... what do you know about the _ life. abducted... what do you know about the people - life. abducted... what do you know about the people that l life. abducted... what do you i know about the people that took you? know about the people that took ou? , ., 4' ., , , you? everyone knows everything in pakistan- _ and killed, just for doing

theirjob. i think they have stopped him mma shoot him. he: met his death on sunday night. —— and then they. press freedom campaigners say 140 journalists were threatened or attacked with some saying moxie itself is under fire. with some saying moxie itself is underfire. i with some saying moxie itself is under fire.— is under fire. i am mobeen azhar and _ is under fire. i am mobeen azhar and i _ is under fire. i am mobeen azhar and i have _ is under fire. i am mobeen azhar and i have been i is under fire. i am mobeen i azhar and i have been hearing from those who say they have been attacked in an effort to silence them. in may 2023, imran riaz, one of pakistan's most well—known journalists, with millions of followers online, is arrested at the airport as he tries to leave the country.