MOSCOW, Russia – Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, vowed to continue her late husband’s work and fight for a free Russia in a video message on Monday. This comes as Russian authorities have refused to grant access to Navalny’s body for the third day in a row.
Navalnaya accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of being responsible for her husband’s death and pledged to work with the Russian people to challenge the Kremlin and strive for a new Russia. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in Navalny’s death, while Navalnaya has accused the Russian authorities of concealing Navalny’s body and waiting for traces of the Novichok nerve agent to vanish.
Navalny’s allies claim to have knowledge of the motive behind his murder and have promised to disclose details, including the individuals involved. Russian investigators have yet to determine the cause of Navalny’s death, leaving uncertainty about when official conclusions will be reached.
Navalny, a 47-year-old former lawyer, died after falling unconscious while at the “Polar Wolf” penal colony in Kharp, where he was serving a lengthy sentence. His mother was told he had died from “sudden death syndrome,” a vague term for various heart conditions leading to death.
Navalny’s spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, expressed frustration over the delayed verification of the cause of death, alleging that the Russian authorities were being untruthful and stalling. Despite this, Navalny’s mother and lawyers were denied access to the morgue on Monday.
The death of Navalny, a prominent figure in the Russian opposition, has left a void as President Putin maneuvers for an extended stay in power through an upcoming election. As the investigation into Navalny’s death continues, the calls for transparency and justice are likely to persist.