MOSCOW, Russia – Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has vowed to carry on her husband’s work and fight for a free Russia. This declaration comes as Russian authorities have for the third day in a row denied Navalny’s relatives access to his body.
Navalnaya accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of being responsible for her husband’s death and stated her commitment to working with the Russian people to fight against the Kremlin and create a new Russia. Despite these accusations, the Kremlin has denied any involvement in Navalny’s death.
Navalnaya also criticized the Russian authorities for withholding Navalny’s body and accused them of waiting for traces of the Novichok nerve agent to disappear from his body. She also claimed that Navalny’s allies know the details of his murder and will soon reveal the names of those involved.
The cause of Alexei Navalny’s death remains unknown as Russian investigators have not yet established the cause. His 69-year-old mother and lawyers were not allowed into the morgue, and they were informed that the official verification of the cause of death had been extended. Navalny’s spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, expressed skepticism, stating that the Russian authorities were lying and stalling.
Navalny, a 47-year-old former lawyer, died on Friday after falling unconscious while at the “Polar Wolf” penal colony in Kharp, about 1,200 miles northeast of Moscow, where he was serving a three-decade sentence. His sudden death robs the Russian opposition of its most charismatic and courageous leader as President Vladimir Putin prepares for an election that will keep him in power until at least 2030.
The denial of access to Navalny’s body and the lack of a clear cause of death continue to fuel suspicion and outrage, both in Russia and internationally. The situation remains fluid as Navalnaya vows to carry on her husband’s fight, keeping pressure on the Kremlin as the world watches closely.