Adding to the pain felt by the family of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, his mother and his team have been denied access to his body, and investigators have issued no official statement regarding his death. They were reportedly told that the investigation had been extended and it was unclear how long it would last. take.
“They are despicably and despicably hiding his body and refusing to give it to his mother,” the Kremlin critic's widow Yulia said in a video statement four days after Russian prison authorities announced his death in prison. Navalnaya said. “Sudden death syndrome”.
Mr Navalnaya, who lives in exile outside Russia, accused Russian authorities of “living pathetically while waiting for the traces of another Putin's Novichok to disappear”. Poisonous substance allegedly used by Russian security services with at least one politically motivated assassination attempt in the past.
Navalnaya called on the Russian people to “share my anger as well as the sadness and endless pain that envelops and grips us,” calling on Russians to uncover and end Putin's alleged wrongdoing. I vowed to continue my husband's mission. his long reign of power Over Russia.
Navalny's spokesperson also accused Russian authorities of lying and “buying time” in a social media post. crack down on tributeDedicated to the late dissident.
At Moscow's Solovetsky Stone, a memorial to victims of political repression, people laid flowers in Navalny's memory.
Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty
But in Putin's Russia, the crackdown was everywhere, and the tribute was soon wiped out, along with dozens of tributes left behind across the country. Hundreds of people have dared to publicly honor Navalny since his death on Friday. arrested.
“I think this reflects the deep sadness of Mr. Navalny's supporters, who are a large part of the Russian population,” Russia analyst Jeff Horn told CBS News, adding that many of those people “have no hope.” I believe we have lost,” he added. In many ways, Mr. Navalny has been able to bring together a broad coalition of people who want a normal, more normal Russia. ”
Mr Navalny was last seen alive the day before his death, when he appeared from prison via remote video link for a court appearance.
SOTAVISION/Reuters
At the IK-3 Polar Wolf penal colony in Russia's far north, the animal appeared haggard but healthy and energetic. There he was detained for several convictions, all of which have always been dismissed by him and many of his supporters around the world as baseless and politically motivated.
Prison officials said the man was out for a walk on Friday when he suddenly felt sick and collapsed, and prison doctors were unable to revive him. They later attributed it to “sudden death syndrome.”
But Mr. Navalny's allies, President Biden and many other world leaders, says President Putin is responsible Due to the death of his most prominent critic.
Shortly after news of Navalny's death broke on Friday, the Russian president was photographed smiling during a visit with factory workers, but has yet to comment publicly.
After exposing corruption at almost every level of the Russian state and frequently targeting Putin himself, Mr. Navalny survived at least two poisoning attempts and spent years in some of Russia's most notorious prisons. He passed away at the age of 47, leaving behind his wife Yulia and two children.
World leaders, including Biden, have vowed to hold accountable those responsible for Navalny's death, but Russians are expected to go to the polls in just a few weeks, and Putin will once again be elected to a full term in office. ensuring accountability at all levels is almost certain. It seemed quite far away on Monday.
