Putin will bear responsibility for what they did to my husband: Navalny's wife

Following the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, his wife Yulia Navalnaya said that President Vladimir Putin will bear responsibility for what was done to her husband.

Navalnaya, received a standing ovation when she spoke about her husband’s death at the Munich security conference on February 16.

"You've all probably seen the terrible news today. I though for a very long time whether I should come out here or fly straight to my children. But then I though what would Alexei do in my place. And I'm sure he would be here. He would be on this stage," said Yulia.

"I want Putin and everyone around Putin, Putin's friends, his government, to know that they will bear full responsibility for what they did to my country, to my family and to my husband. And this day will come very soon," she added.

Navalny, the fiercest foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin who crusaded against official corruption and staged massive anti-Kremlin protests, died in prison Friday, Russian authorities said. He was 47.

Navalny, who was serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism, felt unwell after a walk, according to the Federal Penitentiary Service, and lost consciousness. An ambulance arrived to try to revive him, but he died. It said the cause of death was "being established.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin was informed of Navalny's death and the prison service would look into it in line with standard procedures.

World leaders and Russian opposition activists wasted no time in blaming the death on President Vladimir Putin and his government.

Also watch: Putin critic Alexei Navalny dead inside jail