Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died in prison on Friday, February 16. Find out more about his two children here.
Image Credit: VASILY MAXIMOV/AFP via Getty Images)
Alexei Navalny was one of the key figures leading Russia's opposition movement to combat corruption for years. Throughout his life, he was an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin's rule. Navalny died in prison at 47. Russia's prison service announced the news of his death on Friday, February 16, 2024.
The Russian Federal Prison Service had shared that Navalny had felt sick before his death. “On February 16, 2024, in penal colony No. 3, convict A.A. Navalny felt unwell after a walk, almost immediately losing consciousness,” it said in a statement, per NBC News. “The facility's medical workers immediately arrived at the scene and an emergency medical team was called in. All necessary resuscitation measures have been carried out, but they did not yield positive results. Emergency medics confirmed the death of the convict.”
Despite the imprisonment and the hospitalization when he was poisoned in 2020, Navalny continued to have the support of his family by his side. He was married to his wife Yulia Navalnaya since 2000, and they shared two children: a daughter Daria, 23, and a son Zahar, 15. When the documentary about Navalny was nominated for an Oscar at the 95th Annual Academy Awards, his wife and children attended the event in a show of support for the opposition leader. Following his death, Navalny is survived by his wife and children. Find out everything you need to know about Alexei and Yulia's kids here.
Daria Navalnaya
Alexei and Yulia's older child Daria (who also goes by Dasha) was born shortly after the couple got married. She's a student at Stanford University. While it's not clear what she's studying, she has become a strong advocate for her dad and has joined her mom in speaking out and calling for her dad's release. She has made videos calling for justice for her dad to spread awareness, and she's given speeches calling for his release as part of the Free Navalny campaign. She spoke at the 2021 Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, where she also accepted the Moral Courage Award on his behalf.
Daria speaks as she accepts the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought Award. (Shutterstock)
Dasha has also given tons of interviews to speak about her father, and as the Navalny documentary became nominated throughout award season, she attended many events and ceremonies, including the Oscars, where it won the Best Documentary category.
Zahar Navalny
Navalny's family attends the 2023 Oscars. (Jesse Grant/Getty Images)
Alexei and Yulia welcomed their younger child Zahar in 2008. Still only a teen, there is not much information available about Zahar, but he's been present at award shows with his mom and sister for the documentary Navalny. While he hasn't been as outspoken as his mom and sister being only a teen, both Yulia and Dasha have included shots of him on their Instagram accounts and family photos with Alexei.
