In the aftermath of Alexei Navalny's death, his widow, Yulia Navalnaya, is determined to continue his fight for change in Russia. She has met with EU foreign ministers and posted a video online vowing to uncover the truth behind his alleged murder. Yulia is demanding the immediate release of Alexei's body, which officials have not yet made public, citing ongoing investigations.
Navalny's mother and lawyer were reportedly denied access to the morgue where his body is believed to be held. The Kremlin has confirmed an investigation into Navalny's death but has not disclosed the exact cause of death. Navalny lost consciousness and died on Friday after going for a walk.
Following Navalny's passing, supporters have been paying their respects at makeshift memorials across Russia. Despite the risks of facing repercussions from authorities, individuals have been leaving flowers and lighting candles in memory of the opposition leader. Reports indicate that hundreds of people have been detained for participating in these acts of remembrance.
The whereabouts of Navalny's body remain uncertain as conflicting information has emerged. Navalny's mother traveled to the far north to retrieve his remains but was informed that the body was not at the morgue. Authorities have stated that they will keep the body for an indefinite period to conduct further tests and post-mortems. Navalny's supporters have accused the Kremlin of attempting to conceal the truth by withholding his body and delaying the release of autopsy results.
In her video message, Yulia Navalnaya expressed anger and suspicion towards the Russian authorities, alleging that they are hiding Navalny's body to cover up evidence of poisoning. She referenced the use of the nerve agent Novichok in the attack Navalny survived in August 2020. While no concrete evidence linking Navalny's death to Novichok has been provided, Yulia's statements reflect the deep-seated mistrust and frustration among Navalny's supporters and the wider Russian population.
