Navalny’s body handed over by Russian authorities to his mother | Human Rights News

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Navalny’s household had mentioned that Russian authorities have been withholding his physique, after he died at a penal colony final week.

The physique of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny has been handed over to his mom, his spokesperson and an aide have mentioned.

“Alexei’s physique was given to his mom. Thanks to everyone who demanded this with us,” Navalny spokesperson Kira Yarmysh mentioned on X on Saturday.

The main points of his funeral preparations are but to be decided, Yarmysh mentioned, and it’s unclear whether or not authorities will intervene.

Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Basis, additionally confirmed the information on his Telegram account, and thanked “everybody” who had known as on Russian authorities to return the physique.

Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, had earlier demanded the release of his physique for burial, accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of mocking Orthodox Christian values and “torturing” his corpse.

“You tortured him alive, and now you retain torturing him lifeless. You mock the stays of the lifeless,” she mentioned in a video message to Putin.

Navalny, broadly seen as probably the most distinguished opposition voice in Russia, died final week in a maximum-security Arctic penal colony whereas serving a 19-year sentence on costs of “extremism”.

Many world leaders, together with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine and US President Joe Biden, denounced Navalny’s death, saying that it was clear that Russia was liable for his demise.

Nonetheless, Russia has denied any duty, saying that he had died of pure causes.