Alexei Navalny: Mother demands Putin returns son's body - BBC News 2/20/24, 9:26 PM

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"Let me see my son's body" - Navalny's mother makes plea to Putin

By Robert Greenall
BBC News

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Alexei Navalny: Mother demands Putin returns son's body - BBC News 2/20/24, 9:26 PM

The mother of Alexei Navalny, the Putin critic who died in a Russian prison,
has called on President Vladimir Putin to release his body.

In a video filmed outside the colony where he died on Friday, she said she had
been trying to see him for five days but didn't even know where he was.

And Navalny's wife Yulia urged the authorities not to stop his loved ones from
saying goodbye to him.

The family have been told his body will not be released for two weeks.

His mother was informed it was being held for "chemical analysis", a
representative for Navalny said.

There has been no confirmation of the whereabouts of the body from Russian
authorities, while efforts to locate it have been repeatedly shut down.

Yulia Navalnaya has alleged her husband's body was being kept until traces of
poisoning by the nerve agent Novichok had disappeared. Navalny survived an
attempt to kill him using the poison in 2020.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the accusations "unfounded and

vulgar", but added that since Ms Navalnaya was widowed just days ago he
wouldn't comment further.

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Vigils in memory of Navalny have been held outside Russian diplomatic missions
throughout the world

Navalny's mother made a direct appeal to President Putin outside the Siberian
penal colony known as Polar Wolf, where his death was announced on 16
February.

"I've not been able to see him for five days, they're refusing to give his body to
me, and they're not even saying where he is," she says. Navalny's widow faces
daunting challenge

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Alexei Navalny: Mother demands Putin returns son's body - BBC News 2/20/24, 9:26 PM

"I'm asking you, Vladimir Putin - it all depends on you alone. Let me finally see
my son. I demand that Alexei's body is released immediately so I can give him a
decent burial."

Her words were echoed in a strongly worded post on X (formerly known as

Twitter) by her daughter-in-law.

"I couldn't care less about how the murderer's press secretary comments on
my words," she said, referring to Mr Peskov. She has directly accused Mr Putin
of killing her husband. 'Evacuating was a mistake':
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"Give back Alexei's body and let him be buried with dignity, don't get in the border homes
way of people saying goodbye to him," she said.

Her remarks follow speeches to the European Union and the Munich Security
Conference, and an emotional video released on Monday where she vowed to
continue her husband's work to fight for a "free Russia".

The following day, Ms Navalnaya's newly-created X account where the video

was posted was briefly suspended. The company said it was blocked
"mistakenly" due to a system error.

Ms Navalnaya also told EU leaders on Monday not to recognise Russia's

presidential elections on 16 March and to pursue members of Mr Putin's inner How an asbestos scare has sent
circle who were still trying to dodge sanctions. Sydney scrambling

Russia accused of executing

prisoners of war in Avdiivka

Watch: 'I will continue Alexei's work', says Navalny's widow

Navalny's death in prison was announced on Friday. The authorities at the

Siberian penal colony where he was being held said he had never regained
consciousness aer he collapsed following a walk.
The staff shortage in India's
Officials later said that Navalny had suffered "sudden death syndrome". special effects industry
His mother and lawyer travelled to the remote colony as soon as news of his
death broke.

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Alexei Navalny: Mother demands Putin returns son's body - BBC News 2/20/24, 9:26 PM

Attempts to locate the body have repeatedly been shut down by the prison
mortuary and local authorities.

On Monday, the Kremlin said an investigation into Navalny's death was

ongoing and that there were "no results" as of yet.

Later, Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said that investigators had told The spin maestro who defied
Navalny's mother Lyudmila they would not hand over the body for two weeks odds to reach 500 wickets
while they conducted a "chemical analysis".

Navalny, who was the Russian opposition's most significant leader for the last
decade, had been serving a 19-year sentence on politically motivated charges.

Western leaders have put the blame for Navalny's death squarely on President
Putin and new sanctions against Russia are likely to follow.

The US will announce a "major sanctions package" on Friday to "hold Russia

accountable" for Navalny's death, National Security spokesperson John Kirby
said on Tuesday.
‘Without painkillers, we leave
The European Union has also signalled it is considering new sanctions, while patients to scream for hoursʼ
UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said he expects Britain and the rest of the
G7 group of rich nations to target individuals linked to Navalny's death.

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Alexei Navalny: Mother demands Putin returns son's body - BBC News 2/20/24, 9:26 PM

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