- Navalny’s mother pressured
- Secret burial opposed
- Kremlin denies involvement
According to Alexey Navalny’s mother, Russian authorities are pressuring her to “secretly” bury the body of the opposition leader.
On Thursday, Lyudmila Navalnaya stated in a YouTube video message that she had been granted permission by Russian authorities to view the remains of her son in the mortuary.
Regarding the memorial of the Kremlin critic, who died in detention a week ago, she claimed that investigators were “blackmailing” her and attempting to coerce her into conducting a private burial without mourners.
“They desire that this be carried out covertly, without bidding farewell. They wish to lead me to a recently dug grave at the cemetery’s periphery and declare, ‘Here lies your son.’ ‘This is not acceptable to me,’ she stated.
No initial statement was issued by Russian authorities.
On Wednesday evening, Navalnaya reported being transported to the mortuary and shown the remains of Navalny. She addressed an appeal to Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, on Tuesday. “Allow me to see my son at last,” she pleaded with the authorities to allow his body to be released so she could bury him.
Navalny’s Controversial Death Certificate
According to Navalny’s team, the death certificate, which Navalnaya also examined on Wednesday, recorded his cause of death as natural.
Last Friday, Russia’s most renowned opposition politician, Navalny, aged 47, passed away unexpectedly in an Arctic penal colony. Also his family and aides have asserted that he was assassinated by the Kremlin, a claim that Russia has refuted.
“Investigators assert they are aware of the cause of death,” Navalnaya stated on video while dressed in black and speaking in a composed tone. “While I observed that they had prepared every medical and legal document, I also affixed my signature to the medical death certificate.”
“In accordance with the law, they are obligated to deliver Alexey’s body to me immediately; however, that has not occurred until now. Instead, they are blackmailing me by imposing restrictions on the manner, location, and timing of Alexey’s burial. This conduct violates legal regulations.”
Navalny’s mother stated, “They began threatening me, so I’m recording this video.” “They threaten to do something with my son’s body if I do not consent to a secret funeral,” they say as they stare directly into my eyes.
An investigator was quoted as saying, “Time is not on your side; bodies decompose.”
She stated, “I do not desire special conditions.”
“All I desire is that everything be conducted in accordance with legal regulations.” “I demand the immediate return of the remains of my son.”
“Anything is within our grasp”
Yulia, the widow of Navalny, shared an image of herself in mourning with the couple’s bereaved daughter Dasha earlier on Thursday.
“My adorable little girl,” “You are sitting there supporting me while I flew to embrace and support you,” Yulia Navalnaya wrote in an Instagram post.
“You are so brave, resolute, and strong. My heart says we can handle anything. It is wonderful to have you by my side.”
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Dasha, Navalny’s 23-year-old daughter, and her son, 15 years old, both attend school in the United States. Dasha spoke at award ceremonies and repeatedly called for her father’s release from prison.
Upon the announcement of her husband’s death on Friday, Navalny’s widow did not immediately travel to visit her children. Instead, she attended the Munich Security Conference, where she attributed responsibility for her husband’s death to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin denies participation in Navalny’s death and says it is investigating.
