Russian authorities threaten to bury Navalny on the territory of his prison, according to the opponent's team

Europe 1 with AFP // Photo credit: Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP 5:15 p.m., February 23, 2024

The Russian authorities are threatening to bury Alexei Navalny on the territory of the penal colony where he died, the opponent's team assured Friday, accusing investigators of wanting to impose a funeral on the sly.

Alexeï Navalny's team assures that the Russian authorities "killed" the opponent

"An hour ago, an investigator called Alexei Navalny's mother and gave her an ultimatum. Either she agrees to a secret burial within three hours, without a public farewell, or Alexei will be buried in the penitentiary colony, indicated the spokesperson for the late opponent, Kira Iarmich, on X (formerly Twitter).

“She refuses to negotiate with the Investigative Committee because they do not have the authority to decide when and how her son will be buried,” she added.

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Kira Iarmich said that Alexei Navalny's mother, Lyudmila Navalnaïa, continued to ask the authorities to hand over her son's body and allow a public funeral.

The day before, Lyoudmila Navalnaïa had claimed to have finally been able to see the body of Alexeï Navalny, who died a week ago, while accusing the Russian authorities of using "blackmail" against her to bury her secretly.

Alexeï Navalny's team assures that the Russian authorities "killed" the opponent in prison and are seeking to prevent a public funeral to avoid any demonstration of support from the Russians.

In the 2010s, before the repressive machine completely fell on him, Alexeï Navalny managed to mobilize crowds, particularly in Moscow, thus gaining his status as number 1 opponent of Vladimir Putin.