MOSCOW, Russia – Lyudmila Navalnaya, the mother of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, disclosed that she was pressured by Russian authorities to arrange a “secret” burial for her son. This revelation comes after she claimed to have seen her son’s body at a morgue, where she signed a death certificate.
According to Navalnaya, a medical report she was presented with stated that her son died of natural causes, but she firmly believes that he was killed by Russian authorities. She stated that officials have refused to hand over her son’s body, instead attempting to control the time, place, and manner of the burial. Navalnaya believes that they intend to take her to a distant cemetery to a freshly dug grave and present her with her son’s burial site.
The pressure on Navalnaya also took a threatening turn, as she claimed that authorities warned her of the deteriorating condition of her son’s body and implied that they could take action if she did not agree to their terms. These claims were made in a video posted on her late son’s YouTube channel, adding a sense of urgency and emotion to her plea for the return of her son’s body.
Political scientist Tatiana Stanovaya offered insight into the situation, suggesting that the authorities may have shown Navalnaya her son’s body in an attempt to persuade her to agree to their terms for the funeral. Stanovaya’s analysis provides a glimpse into the political maneuvering surrounding Navalny’s death and its aftermath.
The Kremlin has faced widespread skepticism and criticism following Navalny’s death in a prison colony on February 16. Despite prison officials claiming that Navalny fell ill during a “walk,” doubts persist, with Navalnaya and others arguing that he was targeted by the Russian government. Navalny’s death marks the tragic end of a long and contentious relationship between the opposition leader and Russian authorities, a relationship that has sparked widespread international attention and condemnation.
Efforts to commemorate Navalny’s death have been met with heavy-handed responses from Russian authorities, including the arrest of hundreds and the removal of makeshift monuments. These actions have only intensified the scrutiny and skepticism surrounding Navalny’s death and the handling of his body. The situation continues to unfold, with Navalnaya’s public disclosures adding layers of complexity to the already contentious aftermath of Navalny’s passing.