International Courant
Allies of Russian opposition chief Alexei Navalny are demanding that Russian authorities launch his physique to his mom and lawyer, claiming it’s being intentionally withheld. Russian authorities introduced that Navalny died on Friday in a jail camp within the Arctic.
The grievance got here as tons of of Russians paying their respects to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s vocal critic at memorials throughout the nation have been detained by authorities, human rights screens stated.
After expressing skepticism about whether or not he died, Navalny’s staff confirmed his dying, claiming the 47-year-old had been killed and that Russian investigative authorities had eliminated his physique for additional investigation, in response to Kira Yarmysh, Navalny’s spokesperson.
On this Feb. 20, 2021, file photograph, Russian opposition chief Alexei Navalny stands in a glass cell throughout a listening to on the Babushkinsky District Court docket in Moscow.
Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP by way of Getty Photographs, FILE
Navalny’s staff alleged that Russian authorities are intentionally withholding his physique from his household and lawyer, and expressed concern that authorities might attempt to cowl up indicators of how he died if he was killed.
Yarmysh stated the native investigating police have indicated that Navalny’s physique will solely be handed over after a brand new “investigation” is accomplished subsequent week.
Navalny’s staff additionally claimed that his physique will not be within the morgue in Salekhard – the city close to the jail colony the place he died – regardless of officers telling them so.
On this Might 5, 2018, file photograph, Alexei Navalny is detained throughout an anti-Putin protest rally on Pushkin Sq. in Moscow.
Gleb Schelkunov/Kommersant by way of Polaris by way of Newscom, FILE
One other of Navalny’s associates, Ivan Zhdanov, instructed that the physique has not been launched as a result of the reason for dying has not been decided.
“When Alexey’s lawyer and mom arrived on the colony this morning, they have been informed that the reason for Navalny’s dying was sudden dying syndrome,” Zhdanov stated in an announcement.
Navalny’s staff stated that they had been informed {that a} histological examination had been carried out on his physique.
“The outcomes will doubtless be out there subsequent week. It’s clear that they’re mendacity and doing every part they will to forestall the physique from being transferred,” his staff stated in an announcement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a video tackle on the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outdoors Moscow on February 17, 2024.
Sputnik by way of Reuters
Navalny’s dying drew reactions from world wide, with world leaders sharing condolences and US officers blaming Putin for his dying.
President Joe Biden made feedback Friday, saying he was each “not stunned and outraged” as he positioned blame squarely on Putin and his allies. Requested whether or not the US is contemplating imposing extra sanctions on Russia, Biden informed reporters the US is various choices.
Russian Overseas Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Friday opposed NATO leaders’ response to Navalny’s dying. She referred to as the accusations in opposition to Russia “self-exposing” and stated no forensic investigation had but taken place, however the West’s conclusions have been already prepared.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov additionally denounced the blame of Western nations.
“The statements of Western nations are utterly clear,” Peskov stated. “There isn’t any assertion from medical doctors, no info from forensic consultants, no definitive info from the Federal Penitentiary Service, no details about the causes of dying. And there are such explanations. Clearly they’re completely rabid. We think about such statements completely unacceptable.”
In the meantime, a minimum of 401 individuals have been arrested in 32 Russian cities as individuals tried to go away flowers at areas on Friday and Saturday to pay their respects to Navalny, in response to OVD-Data, an impartial Russian human rights media mission geared toward combating political persecution. . Video confirmed police in riot gear arresting some and threatening to disperse individuals.
On this Might 5, 2018, file photograph, Russian opposition chief Alexei Navalny addresses his supporters throughout an unauthorized anti-Putin rally in Moscow, two days forward of Vladimir Putin’s inauguration for a fourth time period within the Kremlin.
Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP by way of Getty Photographs, FILE
In Moscow, dozens of law enforcement officials lined up on the Monument to Victims of Political Repression, which honors victims of the Soviet-era police state, in response to circulating movies. The video footage reveals dozens of law enforcement officials roughly detaining individuals and dragging some into police vans. In St. Petersburg, photographs present police in full riot gear standing guard at an analogous monument the place individuals have introduced flowers.
1000’s of Russians additionally gathered in cities elsewhere on the earth, together with London, to protest Navalny’s dying on Friday night.
ABC Information’ Natalia Shumskaia contributed to this report
