Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s body has been handed over to his mother, his spokesperson said.
His body was handed over after nine days since he died in an Arctic prison.
Kira Yarmysh, Navalny’s spokesperson, posted on X: “Alexey’s body was handed over to his mother. Many thanks to all those who demanded this with us.”
“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 will inform you as soon as there is news,” she said.
Navalny’s mother Lyudmila earlier in the week recorded several videos saying the authorities were “blackmailing her” into agreeing to a secret funeral for her son, reported The Guardian.
Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny’s widow, has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of mocking Christianity over the way her husband’s body has been treated.
“You tortured him alive, and now you keep torturing him dead. You mock the remains of the dead,” she said in a message to Putin as quoted by The Guardian.
“No true Christian could ever do what Putin is now doing with the body of Alexei,” she said, asking: “What will you do with his corpse? How low will you sink to mock the man you murdered?” Navalnaya said in a video published on her social media as quoted by the newspaper.
Alexei Navalny’s family and team have claimed he was killed by Russian authorities.
However, the Kremlin has denied its involvement in the death.
A large number of his supporters expressed dissatisfaction over the treatment meted towards his remains by authorities.
More than 82,000 people have signed a petition to Russia’s investigative committee asking for Navalny’s body to be handed to his family, reported The Guardian.
At least 800 people have signed a separate petition initiated by a group of Russian Orthodox priests, saying his family has the right to say farewell to Navalny and give him a Christian burial, the British newspaper reported.
G7 leaders threaten Russia with sanctions over Alexei Navalny’s death
The leaders of the G7 countries have pledged to impose sanctions on Russia in connection with the death of the country’s opposition figure Alexei Navalny, according to a joint statement.
“We will hold those culpable for Navalny’s death accountable, including by continuing to impose restrictive measures in response to human rights violations and abuses in Russia and taking other actions,” the statement said on Saturday (February 24, 2024).
What do we know about Navalny’s death?
Alexei Navalny, 47, died in an Arctic prison on Friday (February 16, 2024).
He was serving a 19-year term.
Alexei Navalny felt unwell in prison after a walk and lost consciousness. He received all necessary resuscitation measures, but they did not yield positive results, the Federal Ptnitentiary Service stated as quoted by Russia’s Sputnik news agency.
President Vladimir Putin did not comment on the issue since his death was announced.
Several world leaders, including Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and US President Joe Biden, have slammed Putin over the politician’s death.