Russian Authorities Give Ultimatum to Navalny’s Mother Over Funeral Arrangements
The Russian government has given an ultimatum to Lyudmila Navalnaya, the mother of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, regarding his funeral arrangements. Russian authorities have demanded that Navalnaya either agree to a private funeral or they will bury Navalny on prison grounds. This development comes amidst a week-long standoff between the authorities and Navalny’s supporters, who are seeking to retrieve his body.
Navalny’s close associate, Ivan Zhdanov, revealed on social media that investigators gave Navalnaya three hours to accept a proposal for a private funeral away from the public eye. However, Navalnaya has refused to continue negotiations and is demanding that authorities follow the law by handing over the body within 48 hours of determining the cause of death. She has also filed a complaint accusing authorities of desecrating the body.
Zhdanov stated that Navalnaya insists on holding a funeral and memorial service according to traditions. The 47-year-old Navalny, Russia’s most prominent opposition politician, unexpectedly passed away on February 16 in an Arctic penal colony. His death sparked an outpouring of grief across the country, with hundreds of Russians visiting impromptu memorials adorned with flowers and candles.
The Russian authorities have detained numerous individuals in an attempt to suppress any significant display of sympathy for President Vladimir Putin’s most formidable opponent before the upcoming presidential election, which he is expected to win. Despite these efforts, Navalnaya and Navalny’s lawyers have been persistently trying to retrieve his body since last week, garnering support from prominent figures in Russia.
Navalnaya visited the morgue in the Arctic city of Salekhard, where she was allowed to see her son’s body. She reiterated her demand for the return of Navalny’s body and protested against authorities’ attempts to force her into agreeing to a secret burial. Navalnaya expressed her desire for a proper mourning ceremony, stating, “They want to do it secretly without a mourning ceremony.”
Navalny’s spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, revealed on social media that Navalnaya was shown a medical certificate stating that Navalny died of “natural causes.” However, the specific details of these causes were not disclosed. Prominent public figures have taken to social media to appeal directly to Putin, urging him to return Navalny’s body to his family.
Dmitry Muratov, a Nobel Prize-winning journalist, pleaded with Putin, saying, “Just give Lyudmila her son. It’s awkward to talk about this in a country that still considers itself Christian.” Nadya Tolokonnikova, known for her involvement with the band Pussy Riot, released a video criticizing Putin and his officials for trampling on traditional Russian values. She implored Putin to have a conscience and return Navalny’s body to his mother. Ballet star Mikhail Baryshnikov also joined the chorus, firmly requesting that authorities return “the body of the murdered Alexei Navalny to his mother.”
In response to officials’ refusal to release Navalny’s body, Navalnaya has filed a lawsuit contesting their decision. A closed-door hearing has been scheduled for March 4. On Monday, Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, released a video accusing Putin of killing her husband and alleging that the refusal to release his body is part of a cover-up.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed these allegations as “absolutely unfounded, insolent accusations about the head of the Russian state.” Meanwhile, Zhdanov announced a reward of 50,000 euros for anyone who can provide comprehensive information about what happened to Navalny.
The situation surrounding Alexei Navalny’s death and the handling of his body has intensified the already tense political climate in Russia. As the standoff between Navalny’s supporters and the authorities continues, the world watches closely to see how this situation unfolds and what it means for the future of Russian politics.