Enlarge image

Memories of the late Navalny: “It is shocking to see that people in Russia are arrested for laying flowers”

Photo: Christian Spicker / IMAGO

The Russian authorities have not yet made any detailed statements about the death of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, and relatives have been denied access to the body. Now the German Foreign Ministry wants to find out more - and has summoned the Russian ambassador in Berlin, Sergei Nechayev. This was announced by a ministry spokesman.

The ministry took the death of Navalny, who had been imprisoned for three years, as an opportunity to call for the release of all recently politically imprisoned people in Russia. "It's shocking to see that people in Russia are arrested for laying flowers."

Cause of death still not determined

Navalny was considered the harshest critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and had been in prison for a good three years. According to Russian authorities, Navalny, who was physically weakened after many days in repeated solitary confinement, collapsed on Friday while walking in the courtyard of his Siberian prison camp in freezing temperatures. According to the prison service, attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful.

According to their own statements, the Kremlin critic's relatives and lawyers have so far been denied access to Navalny's body. The Russian regime authorities also lack answers about the cause of death and other circumstances. The Investigative Committee reportedly said the review of Navalny's death had been extended. It is not known how long it will last. The cause of death has therefore still “not been determined”.

The case sparked international consternation and, in some cases, sharp criticism of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. Many people directly associate the Russian president with Navalny's death. A Kremlin spokesman warns against prejudice.

In Russia, authorities are now taking tough action against mourners. More than 400 people have already been arrested at Navalny memorial rallies in 36 Russian cities.

In the summer of 2020, Navalny was poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok. He was flown to Germany and barely survived. Researchers from the investigative platforms Bellingcat and The Insider and SPIEGEL managed to identify a commando of the Russian domestic secret service FSB that allegedly carried out the attack. When he returned to Russia in January 2021, he was arrested at the airport in Moscow.

mrc/AFP/Reuters