Russian rock star pays tribute to Alexei Navalny in front of thousands at concert after Putin critic 'dies in prison'

A RUSSIAN rock legend has dedicated a song to the late Alexei Navalny following his death in prison on Friday.

While performing in front of a large audience in Kazakhstan, Yuri Shevchuk paid a heartfelt tribute to the fallen anti-corruption activist.

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Navalny was one of Putin's most outspoken opponents who spent his final moments suffering in a hellish Arctic prison after being locked up for 30 years last August.

Navalny denied the charges of fraud and contempt court but was nonetheless met with the devastating sentence he had served just two years before his death.

Shevchuk – who is known for being critical of the Vladimir Putin's government – addressed his audience and said: “Alexey Navalny, who spoke to us Russians about freedom, has died.

“He reminded us that we can all become free in the best sense of the word. He said that faith without freedom is fanaticism.

“Labor without freedom is slavery. There is nothing without freedom!”

The Russian opposition leader did not expect to be released during Putin's lifetime.

But it would turn out that he wouldn't survive that long.

According to the Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service Navalny felt unwell after walking near the feared prison “Polar Wolf”.and lost consciousness.

An ambulance arrived to try to revive him, but he died. It said the cause of death “is being determined.”

That had now become apparent Navalny's body was found covered in bruises and was guarded in a morgue amid claims that Russia had him killed.

Navalny47, has consistent features that could prove he was “murdered”. Vladimir Putin's chilling regime after it was suggested he had suffered a seizure in prison, paramedics who saw his body said.

A doctor, who works at the hospital where Navalny's body was sent, said: “As an experienced paramedic, I can say that the injuries described by those who saw them appeared to be the result of convulsions.

“If a person has convulsions and others try to hold him down, but the convulsions are very strong, then bruises appear.”

There were also signs that someone in prison tried to save Navalny before he died, as there were bruises on his chest that showed signs of resuscitation.

The paramedic continued: “They still tried to revive him, and he most likely died of cardiac arrest. But no one yet says why this stop took place.”

Russia gave the official cause of death as “sudden death syndrome” yesterday, Navalny's family and lawyer said.

His death was confirmed on February 16 at 2:17 pm local time, according to a document given to Navalny's mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya.

Hospital pathologists were reportedly not allowed to perform an autopsy on his body, the source added.

As soon as his body arrived, it was quickly taken to the morgue and two officers had to block the door so no one could see inside. They continued.

The paramedic said: “Everyone wanted to know what had happened, what all the secrecy was about and if they were trying to hide something serious.”

Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya today wrote a message to her husband in her first social media post since his death.

She posted a photo of them together, followed by the heartbreaking caption: “I love you.”

Navalny's mother accompanied his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh to say goodbye to his body at a morgue where they were told his body would be sent.

But when they arrived, they were shocked to find the body missing.

Russian Authorities later announced they had delayed the release of the body because they had not yet found the cause of death, prominent Navalny ally Ivan Zhdanov said.

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