Navalny's body returned to mother, spokeswoman says
2024-02-24 15:55:21+00:00

The body of leading Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny has been
returned to his mother, his spokesperson says.

It comes after she had reportedly been told to agree to a "secret"
burial, or else he would be buried at the prison colony where he
died.

In a post on X, Navalny's spokesperson Kira Yarmysh thanked everybody
who had demanded the return of his body.

"The funeral is yet to take place," she wrote.

"We don't know whether the authorities will interfere with it being
carried out in the way the family wants and as Alexei deserves."

Earlier on Saturday, Navalny's widow, Yulia, accused Vladimir Putin
of holding her late husband's body "hostage" and demanded its release
without conditions.

She again accused the Russian president of being behind the death of
her husband.

The Kremlin has denied the allegations, calling Western reaction to
the death "hysterical".

Navalny died on 16 February in a Russian prison inside the Arctic
Circle.

This is a breaking story and is being updated