The body of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died unexpectedly in prison nine days ago, was handed over to his mother on Saturday in the remote Arctic city of Salekhard, his spokeswoman said.
Navalny’s allies urged supporters “not to relax” and his spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, wrote on social media platform X that there was no certainty that Russian authorities would let the relatives hold a funeral “the way the family wants and the way Alexei deserves.”Фальшивая вера Путина https://t.co/jjTDemlt7h
— Yulia Navalnaya (@yulia_navalnaya) February 24, 2024
In her six-minute video published on YouTube, Navalnaya said she would continue the fight against Putin’s regime, questioning his faith and accusing him of holding her husband’s body “hostage.”Alexey's body was handed over to his mother. Many thanks to all those who demanded this with us.
— Кира Ярмыш (@Kira_Yarmysh) February 24, 2024
Lyudmila Ivanovna is still in Salekhard. 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…
On Friday Navalny’s mother Lyudmila said that Russian investigators were refusing to release his body from a morgue in Salekhard until she agreed to lay him to rest without a public funeral.
She said an official had told her that she should agree to their demands, as Navalny’s body was already decomposing.
On Saturday, Navalny aides said authorities had threatened to bury him in the remote prison colony where he died unless his family agreed to their conditions.
Since returning to the Russian presidency in 2012, Putin has positioned himself as a defender of traditional, conservative values against what he portrays as corrosive Western liberalism.Час назад матери Алексея позвонил следователь и поставил ультиматум. Или она в течение 3 часов соглашается на тайные похороны без публичного прощания, или Алексея захоронят в колонии. Она отказалась вести переговоры с СК, потому что у них нет полномочий решать, как и где ей…
— Кира Ярмыш (@Kira_Yarmysh) February 23, 2024
He has also trumpeted his closeness to Russia’s Orthodox Church, regularly appearing at services around religious festivals, and speaking of his personal faith.
Navalnaya said her husband had been a devout Christian, who attended church and had fasted for Lent even while in prison. She said his political activism had been inspired by Christian values.
