Navalny also joked the day before his death that he was in good spirits

The recently deceased Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was last seen smiling on television. He was joking about running out of money and judges' salaries.

Navalny was last seen on TV last Thursday. That day he testified in court via video link from prison. He was dressed as a prisoner. He looked healthy and cheerful. The court officials in the video also seem to be enjoying the argument.

A day later, Russian prison authorities said Navalny, 47, had died. He lost consciousness before his death.

For more than a decade, Navalny became a global figure as the leader of Russia's opposition.

Navalny was known for his sense of humor. He appeared normal during the hearing last Thursday.

Navalny told the court, 'Your Honor, I will send you my personal (bank) account number, so that you can "top up" the account with the large salary you receive as a federal judge. Because, I am running out of money.'

Online media SOTA reported that a prison officer tried to confiscate Navalny's pen. After his 'discussion' with the official, a court session was called.

Navalny wrote Thursday night that he had been sent to solitary confinement for 15 days.

In January 2021, Navalny went to prison for the first time. Since then he has often been sent to solitary confinement. This is the punishment given to violators in the Russian prison system. Late last year, he was taken to a prison in the Yamal-Nenets region of northern Siberia.