Russian leader Navalny’s ‘tortured’ body handed over to his mother.
The passing of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny has ignited a firestorm of controversy, with his widow Yulia Navalnaya accusing President Vladimir Putin‘s government of withholding his body and engaging in despicable treatment of a political adversary.
Navalny, a prominent critic of Putin’s regime, died under suspicious circumstances while in prison, prompting widespread scrutiny and condemnation from international observers.
After nine days of uncertainty, Navalny’s body was finally released to his family in Salekhard, a remote city in the Arctic.
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In a heartfelt video message, Yulia Navalnaya spared no words in condemning Putin and his administration, describing their actions as tantamount to “torture” of her late husband’s corpse.
She pledged to persist in the struggle against Putin’s authoritarian rule, questioning the president’s professed religious beliefs and accusing him of holding Navalny’s body as a hostage.
Amidst the grief and turmoil surrounding Navalny’s death, his allies have urged supporters to remain vigilant, expressing concerns about the Russian authorities’ intentions regarding his funeral arrangements.
Kira Yarmysh, Navalny’s spokeswoman, cautioned that there was no guarantee that the family’s wishes for a proper farewell to Navalny would be respected by the authorities.
Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila, shed light on the ordeal faced by the family, revealing that Russian investigators had pressured her to forego a public funeral for her son due to the purported deterioration of his body.
Allegations surfaced that authorities had even threatened to inter Navalny’s remains in the remote prison facility where he passed away unless the family acceded to their demands.
In her poignant address, Yulia Navalnaya emphasized her late husband’s unwavering commitment to his Christian faith, highlighting his devout observance of religious practices, including attendance at church services and fasting during Lent, even during his incarceration.
She portrayed Navalny as a man whose political activism was deeply rooted in his Christian values, a stark contrast to Putin’s public persona as a defender of traditional Russian and Orthodox Christian principles.
As Russian leader Navalny’s ‘tortured’ body handed over to his mother, Putin‘s presidency, which commenced in 2012, has been characterized by his espousal of conservative values and his close association with the Russian Orthodox Church.
