Julia Navalnaya demands return of husband's body, labels Kremlin spokesman 'murderer's representative'

In one of his addresses, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's spokesman, alluded to the circumstances surrounding Alexei Navalny's death and his wife, Julia Navalnaya's, comments. The Russian oppositionist's demise on February 16 while in prison has been widely regarded by experts as politically motivated murder.

Alexey endured enormous suffering and torture in a penal colony. He was not treated like other inmates. His wife stated that he was tortured, kept in a concrete cell. According to her, the Kremlin is trying to hide evidence of the murder, hence its refusal to let Navalny's body be returned.

Claims that Alexei Navalny's body is being withheld to conceal evidence of poisoning are baseless and unfounded - retorted Dmitry Peskov to these charges. He went on to say that the police who detained individuals laying flowers in remembrance of Navalny were merely following the law. He also declared that he sees no basis for involving international authorities in the investigation, contradicting suggestions made by Joseph Borell, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Navalny's widow, Julia Navalnaya, commented on Peskov's statement. "I don't care how my words are commented on by the murderer's spokesman. Give Alexei's body back and give him a decent burial; don't prevent people from bidding him farewell," - Navalnaya stated, as quoted by Nexta. It's worth noting that Russian investigators are planning a chemical examination on Navalny's body and are therefore denying his family and lawyers access to it.

Alexei Navalny passed away on February 16 in a penal colony located within the Arctic Circle in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. According to accounts from prison guards, the 47-year-old oppositionist "felt bad" and "lost consciousness". Despite calls for medical attention and alleged rescue attempts, Navalny did not survive.

Navalny was arrested in January 2021 and jailed upon his return to Russia from Germany, where he had been recovering from an attempted poisoning, likely executed by Russian special services. The authorities pressed additional criminal charges against him, resulting in sentences totalling more than 30 years of incarceration.