Russian Prison Database Allegedly Hacked In Wake Of Opposition Leader Navalny's Death

A group of hackers has reportedly breached the Russian prison system’s database to avenge the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

What Happened: The hackers, who are said to be a mix of nationalities including Russian expatriates and Ukrainians, accessed a computer network connected to Russia’s prison system, CNN reported. The group allegedly stole a database containing information on hundreds of thousands of Russian prisoners and their relatives and contacts, including data on prisoners in the Arctic penal colony where Navalny died on Feb. 16.

The compromised website displayed a message proclaiming, “Long live Alexey Navalny!” accompanied by a photo of Navalny and his wife Yulia at a political rally.

The hackers claim to be sharing this data, which includes phone numbers and email addresses, in the hope that someone can help understand what happened to Navalny.

In a bold move, the hackers also manipulated the prices of items on the Russian prison system’s online commissary, where family members buy food for inmates. They changed the prices of items like noodles and canned beef to one ruble, which is roughly $0.01. This went unnoticed for several hours, and it took three days for the IT staff at the prison shop to fully shut down the hacker-provided discounts.

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According to cybersecurity expert Tom Hegel, the leaked data shows all signs of authenticity and originated from the hacked prison shop.

Why It Matters: The death of Navalny, a prominent critic of the Russian government, has been a contentious issue. While the U.S. has held Russian President Vladimir Putin responsible for Navalny’s death, the Russian government has maintained that it was due to natural causes.

These recent developments, including the breach of the prison system and the subsequent data leak, add a new layer of complexity to the situation. The Russian government’s response to these events could have significant implications for the ongoing political unrest in the country, as evidenced by the calls for protest by the Russian opposition to honor Navalny’s legacy.

Meanwhile, the international community’s response to these events, particularly from the U.S., could further strain relations with Russia. This is especially relevant given former U.S. President Donald Trump‘s suggestion of a potential connection between Putin and Navalny’s death.

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