Yulia Navalnaya to Russian Authorities: Return Alexei Navalny's Body to His Family

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the deceased Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, called on Russian authorities on Saturday, March 5, to return her husband's body for burial. In a six-minute video posted on YouTube, she accused Vladimir Putin of holding her husband's body as a 'hostage' and labeled Putin's claimed Christian faith as fake. Lyudmila, Alexei Navalny's mother, stated on Friday, March 4, that Russian inspectors had refused to hand over her son's body, which is currently being kept in a morgue in a remote area of the Arctic, unless she agrees to bury her son secretly and without any public ceremony. She added that one official said they must follow orders because Navalny's body is decomposing. Alexei Navalny's aides also reported on Saturday that officials threatened to bury him in the Kharp prison area where Navalny was exiled unless his family agreed to their terms. In the emotional video, Yulia Navalnaya stated that Putin is personally responsible for the whereabouts of her husband's body and that he, who tortured Alexei in prison, is now torturing his corpse as well. She remarked about Putin, 'We already knew that Putin's faith was fake. But now we see it clearer than ever.' Mrs. Navalnaya added, 'No true Christian could ever do what Putin is doing to Alexei's body.' Since returning to the presidency in 2021, Vladimir Putin has portrayed himself as a defender of traditional and conservative values against what he calls destructive Western liberalism. He has also publicly emphasized his closeness to the Russian Orthodox Church, regularly attending religious ceremonies and speaking of his personal faith. Mrs. Navalnaya stated that her husband was a devout Christian who attended church and even fasted while in prison. She emphasized that her husband's political activities were inspired by Christian values. At the end of her video, she said, 'Return my husband's body to us.' Alexei Navalny, the most prominent political opponent of the Russian president, suspiciously died on February 16 in Kharp prison, located in the Yamalo-Nenets region, about 1,900 kilometers northeast of Moscow, where he was serving a 30-year sentence. Lyudmila, 69, has been asking authorities for days to bury her son in a manner that allows friends, family, and supporters to pay their respects. Kira Yarmysh, a spokesperson for Alexei Navalny on social media platform 'X', stated that Navalny's mother will continue her request. On Friday, March 4, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. would impose over 500 new sanctions against Russia in commemoration of the second anniversary of the war in Ukraine and the suppression of dissent within Russia and the death of Alexei Navalny. In response to Navalny's death, Biden stated, 'Don't be mistaken. Putin is responsible for Navalny's death.' The Kremlin has denied this claim. Navalny's wife: Putin killed him; tributes to Navalny in various cities in Russia. Navalny's spokesperson: Russian officials gave Alexei's mother an 'ultimatum' for her son's burial. Biden announced 500 new sanctions against Russia. The European Union called for a 'transparent international investigation' into Navalny's death. The European Union demanded new sanctions against Russia due to Navalny's death.