The remains of the late Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny have finally been transferred to his mother, more than a week following his demise in an Arctic prison colony, as confirmed by his spokesperson on Saturday.
Navalny, known as President Vladimir Putin’s fiercest adversary, passed away on February 16 while incarcerated in a remote Siberian prison, serving a lengthy 19-year sentence widely perceived as politically motivated retaliation for his outspoken opposition.
In a statement shared on X, previously Twitter, Navalny’s spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, expressed gratitude to all who supported their demand for the release of Navalny’s body to his family.
Over the past week, Russian authorities had withheld custody of Navalny’s body from his mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, despite her journey to Salekhard in the Yamalo-Nenets region, the closest town to the prison where Navalny died.
Navalny’s associates filed a lawsuit on Friday seeking to reclaim his body, alleging that local investigators had issued threats of a clandestine burial on prison grounds unless his mother consented.
Yarmysh highlighted the ongoing uncertainty surrounding funeral arrangements, stating that Navalny’s mother remained in Salekhard and plans for the service remained undetermined. Concerns lingered over potential government interference that could deviate from the family’s wishes and the dignity befitting Navalny.
Previously, Navalny’s team had accused the Kremlin of obstructing a public funeral, fearing it could evolve into a demonstration of support for Navalny’s movement and his opposition to Putin.
Despite Navalny’s prominent status as Putin’s primary critic, the Russian leader has refrained from publicly addressing his demise.
