The body of Alexei Navalny, a prominent Russian opposition figure, has been returned to his mother as confirmed by his spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh. Navalny died on February 16 in a Russian prison, and his widow Yulia Navalnaya has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of holding his body “hostage.”
Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila Ivanovna, is still in Salekhard where the funeral is pending. Yarmysh expressed concerns about the authorities interfering with the funeral arrangements and stated, “We do not know if the authorities will interfere to carry it out as the family wants and as Alexei deserves.”
Reports suggest that Lyudmila Ivanovna was asked to agree to a “secret” burial, or else Navalny would be buried at the prison colony where he died. Navalny, known as Putin’s most vocal critic, was serving a 19-year jail term for politically motivated offences.
Yulia Navalnaya demanded the release of Navalny’s body without any conditions and accused Putin of holding it “hostage.” The news of Navalny’s body being returned to his mother comes amidst ongoing tensions and concerns about the funeral arrangements and interference by the authorities.
The return of Navalny’s body to his mother marks a significant development in the aftermath of his death in the Russian prison. The situation remains fluid as Navalny’s family and supporters navigate through the process of honoring his legacy and ensuring that his final wishes are respected.
