The widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has accused President Vladimir Putin of disrespecting Christianity by attempting to force a secret funeral for Navalny after his death in a penal colony. Yulia Navalnaya released a video alleging that authorities are pressuring Navalny's mother to agree to a secret burial, despite her wishes to have her son's body returned to her.
Navalnaya claimed that officials threatened to bury Navalny in the Arctic prison and implied that time was running out due to the body decomposing. She pleaded for the return of her husband's body, stating that he was tortured while alive and is now being mistreated in death.
Navalny, a prominent opposition figure in Russia, passed away unexpectedly on February 16, sparking spontaneous memorials across the country. Authorities have detained numerous individuals to prevent large displays of support for Navalny ahead of the upcoming presidential election.
Navalnaya directly accused Putin, an Orthodox Christian, of being responsible for Navalny's death and criticized his handling of the situation. She questioned the morality of Putin's actions and urged him to return Navalny's body to his family.
On the ninth day following Navalny's death, residents in various Russian cities paid tribute to him by leaving flowers at monuments and staging small protests. Several individuals were reportedly detained for their actions, including one person who demanded the return of Navalny's body.
Despite the accusations and public outcry, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied any involvement of Putin in Navalny's death, dismissing the claims as baseless. The situation has drawn comparisons to past instances of political repression and dissent in Russia.
Efforts to retrieve Navalny's body have been met with legal challenges, with Navalny's mother filing a lawsuit to contest the refusal to release the body. A court hearing has been scheduled for early March to address the matter.
Various public figures, including musician Nadya Tolokonnikova, have spoken out against Putin's actions and called for the return of Navalny's body to his family. The situation continues to unfold as Navalny's supporters seek justice and closure in the aftermath of his untimely death.
