Remains handed to Lyudmila Navalnaya nine days after Putin critic’s death in Arctic prison, say supporters
The body of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been handed over to his mother nine days after he died in an Arctic prison, his spokesperson announced on Saturday.
In a post on X, Kira Yarmysh thanked “all those who had demanded” the return of his body, but added that she did not know if the authorities would allow a public funeral to be held.
“The funeral is still pending. We do not know if the authorities will interfere [with it being carried] out as the family wants and as Alexei deserves,” she said.
Navalny’s mother earlier in the week recorded several videos saying the authorities were “blackmailing her” into agreeing to a secret funeral for her son.
Lyudmila Navalnaya, who had been trying to retrieve her son’s body for more than a week, said investigators refused to give her his body unless she agreed to a secret funeral without a public farewell. She said she refused the conditions set by the authorities, insisting on a public funeral.
