MOSCOW, Russia – The allies of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny are accusing the Russian authorities of hiding the truth about his death and labeling it as a state-backed murder. This comes as police have been apprehending individuals attending impromptu gatherings in his honor. Navalny’s spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, revealed that officials had been providing conflicting information to Navalny’s mother about the cause of death and the location of his body, which she sees as a stalling tactic.
Navalny’s mother received a telegram on Saturday informing her that her son had died at 2:17pm local time on Friday, according to Yarmysh. The telegram, sent by officials at the penal colony in Kharp, claimed that Navalny had died from “sudden death syndrome.” However, both the prison and the morgue in Salekhard, a town an hour’s drive to the south, stated that they did not have the body. Local investigators informed Navalny’s lawyer that they were still conducting examinations to determine the cause of death and would not release the body until the examinations were completed.
The death of Navalny has led to widespread outrage from western leaders and his supporters, who have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of being responsible. In response to Navalny’s death, the UK foreign secretary expressed the need for consequences when human rights abuses occur. Additionally, foreign ministers from the G7 group held a minute’s silence for Navalny at the start of a meeting at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.
The reaction outside of Russia has been sympathetic, with western leaders and Navlany’s supporters pointing fingers at Putin for the death. However, within Russia, the police have been cracking down on spontaneous memorials for Navalny, arresting hundreds of people across the country. The reaction within Russia reflects the tension and crackdown on dissent in a country with a history of challenging dissent. It is an issue that has divided public opinion and led to widespread protests nationwide.
Moreover, Navalny’s allies and other opposition members have committed to continuing their challenge against Putin. Maria Pevchikh, who chairs Navalny’s foundation, emphasized the impact and legacy of Navalny, and vowed that the killers will be brought to justice. Similarly, Boris Nadezhdin, a previously unremarkable politician, expressed his determination to carry on the fight that Navalny had started, pointing out that the dream of a free Russia lives on and will not be extinguished.