According to sources, the family of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s fervent critic Alexei Navalny, who was discovered dead in a Russian prison, has been notified that the authorities will not release his remains. Navalny’s spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, stated that his mother was notified by officials that his body is being held for “chemical analysis” and will be given over to them in two weeks. Russian police have yet to confirm the location of his deceased body, while efforts to locate it continue.
Navalny was “slowly murdered in a Russian jail by Putin’s regime” during a press conference on Monday
Late Russian opposition leader’s wife Yulia Navalnaya has accused the Russian officials of hiding it. Alexei Navalny’s widow Yulia Navalnaya shared a video on Monday (Feb 19) in which she vowed to continue his work fighting for a “free Russia” and accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of killing his critic and her husband. She further said that officials had kept his remains to verify that all signs of Novichok poisoning were eradicated. In the video, Navalnaya’s voice shook with anguish and rage as she begged the audience to unite with her and “share the fury and hatred for those who dared to kill our future.” Navalny’s death in a Russian prison was reported by officials on Friday (February 16). The administration of the Siberian correctional cell stated that Navalny did not regain consciousness after he suddenly collapsed.
As soon as his death was announced, Navalny’s mother and lawyer travelled to the remote colony. The local authorities and jail morgue have repeatedly stalled the family members’ efforts to locate the body. The Kremlin claimed on Monday (Feb 19) that an inquiry into Navalny’s death was ongoing and that there had been “no results” as of yet. Western governments blamed President Vladimir Putin for Navalny’s death. Speaking to reporters on Monday (Feb 19), US President Joe Biden stated, “The fact of the matter is: Putin is responsible, whether he ordered it or he is responsible for the circumstances he placed that man in.” According to EU foreign policy leader Josep Borrell, Navalny was “slowly murdered in a Russian jail by Putin’s regime” during a press conference on Monday. The United States and the European Union said that they are considering imposing new sanctions on Russia after Navalny’s death.