“Alexey’s body was handed over to his mother. We thank those who requested it with us“said the spokesperson, Kira Yarmish, on the social network X (formerly Twitter).
According to him, mother Liudmila Navalnaya is still in the town of Salekhard, near the Arctic prison colony where the main opponent of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, died last week.
“The funeral is still pending. We do not know if the authorities will interfere to carry it out as the family wants. and as Alexey deserves. We will inform you as soon as there is news,” the spokesperson added.
Yesterday, those close to Navalny reported that the Russian authorities threatened to bury him on the grounds of the prison colony where he was detained.
More than twenty personalities from the world of Russian culture, critical of the Kremlin, called on the authorities to hand over the body to his relatives, who had been demanding it since his death was announced last Saturday.
Navalny’s entourage accuses the Russian authorities of “killing” the opponent in prison and of trying to prevent a public ceremony to avoid any demonstration of support.
Navalny, a lawyer and blogger, established himself over 12 years as President Vladimir Putin’s number one detractor.
Harassed by the authorities and ignored by the official media, he built a notoriety on the Internet and networks, thanks to the dissemination of viral video investigations that denounced the corruption of Russian power.
In January 2021, he was arrested upon returning to his country after recovering in Germany, where he was hospitalized after being the victim of poisoning in Russia that he attributed to Putin, something that the Kremlin denied.
Alexei Navalny
Telam/AFP
The Russian Federal Penitentiary Service announced last Saturday that the opposition leader died after “feeling unwell during a walk” in the Arctic prison colony where he was serving a 19-year prison sentence.
Source: Ambito
