Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was surprised with some good news on Monday while attending a court hearing via video link from prison. His lawyer informed him that the documentary detailing his poisoning and political activism, “Navalny”, won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. The film, directed by Daniel Roher, follows Navalny’s journey from his near-fatal poisoning in August 2020 to his return to Russia and subsequent imprisonment. It also highlights his political activism, which has made him a target of the Kremlin. Navalny’s spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh called the Oscar win “the most remarkable announcement of an (Oscar) victory in history.” She said the news was a “great joy” for Navalny and a “huge victory” for his supporters. The film’s director, Roher, said he was “thrilled” to be able to share the news with Navalny. “I am so proud of the work we have done to bring his story to the world,” he said. Navalny’s supporters have been pushing for his release from prison, where he is serving a two-and-a-half-year sentence for violating the terms of a suspended sentence. His case has been widely condemned by the international community, including the United States, the European Union and the United Nations. Despite the Oscar win, Navalny’s legal battle continues. He is currently appealing his sentence and has filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights.