Alexei Navalny may have been killed by a punch to the heart, a technique once taught to agents of the Soviet Union’s secret services.

Vladimir Osechkin, founder of the human rights group Gulag.net, which is informed by a wide network of Russian prisoners and officials, told the Times that he believes Russian authorities kept Navalny in the polar cold before executing him with a punch.

Osechkin said that he was likely kept outside in open air solitary confinement, where temperatures go as low as -27C, for two and a half hours.

He told the Times: “I think that they first destroyed his body by keeping him out in the cold for a long time and slowing the blood circulation down to a minimum.

Alexei Navalny killed by ‘KGB hallmark’ punch to the heart, human rights campaigner claims – Evening Standard https://t.co/IcKamsMGdh

— Ian Kingsley (@authorkingsley) February 21, 2024

Alexei Navalny was ‘killed by KGB trademark single punch to the heart’ https://t.co/HrcZfwiYa5

Executed with one punch to the heart, like, you know, that KGB signiture finishing move ??

Defo not a heart attack, defo a Five Finger Death Punch ??

— WEF Burns (@BurnTheWEF) February 21, 2024

To support his claims, the activist cited as evidence comments from a source working at the Arctic Circle detention colony where Navalny died, who said he had bruises on his body when he died that were consistent with the one-punch technique.

Alexei Navalny was killed by a ‘KGB trademark’ single punch to the heart – The Mirror https://t.co/rO9mRJg1so

— patesalo (@patesalo_e) February 21, 2024