The circumstances surrounding the death of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny are still unclear, and the Russian authorities are largely silent on the case. However, the widow of the opposition leader who died in Russian custody, Yulia Navalnaya, is certain: Russian President Vladimir Putin is responsible for her husband's death.
"Three days ago, Vladimir Putin killed my husband," Navalnaya said in a video message published on Monday. With Navalny, Putin wanted to "kill our hope, our freedom, our future," she added, close to tears. With Navalny, Putin also killed half of her heart and soul. “But I still have the other half,” said Navalnaya. She announced that she would continue her husband's cause.
"I will continue to fight with you for our country"
“I will continue to fight with you for our country, and I urge you to stand by me,” said Navalnaya. »Don't just share the grief and the endless pain that has enveloped us and will never let go. I ask you to share the anger with me. Anger and anger at those who dared to destroy our future.«
Navalnaya announced that the circumstances of the death would be clarified. She knows “why exactly Putin killed Alexei.” Now she and her team will find out exactly what happened. "We will name names and we will show faces."
In her video, the widow appeared very combative. “I was next to him all these years, I was happy next to him and supported him,” says the 47-year-old. Putin killed him "cowardly" and now the body is being hidden and the lies are continuing. So far, the relatives report that they have not been allowed to see the body.
When the news of the Kremlin critic's death became known, Julija Navalnaya was invited to the opening of the security conference in Munich. She gave a speech in shock and called for a fight against President Putin's Russian power apparatus. According to the Foreign Office, both Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock later had a conversation with Navalny's widow, Julija Navalnaya.
On Friday, political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya confirmed that the widow would become a political figure in Russia, "whether she wants it or not." "Your word now takes on a special meaning and weight in the opposition environment," says Stanovaya. Today's video message from Navalnaya appears to be a signal that she wants to accept the role as the new leader of the opposition.
mrc/heb