Kremlin addresses Alexei Navalny's death investigation and withholding of his body
2:12 PM EST, February 19, 2024
Interfax agency reported that during the press conference, Dmitry Peskov was asked about the timeline for completing procedures related to handing over Navalny's body to his family.
"No, it's not a question for us. We are not involved in this case. This is not the function of the president's administration", Peskov declared.
Furthermore, Putin's spokesperson added that "comments by Western leaders on Navalny's death won't harm Russia, but they do not portray those who make such comments in a good way".
When discussing the investigation into Navalny's death, Peskov indicated that "it is ongoing, with all necessary actions being conducted". He added that the investigation results "haven't been publicized and remain unknown."
Navalny's family denied body of the oppositionist
On the morning of February 19, Alexei Navalny's mother and lawyers were denied access to the morgue, and the body of her son was once again withheld from the woman.
"Early in the morning, Alexei's mother and lawyers showed up at the morgue. They were denied entry. One of the lawyers was essentially pushed out. When they asked if Alexei's body was inside, the staff remained silent", informed Alexei Navalny's spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh.
An independent Russian portal, "Novaya Gazeta. Europa", confirmed that Navalny's body is held in the morgue at a hospital in the city of Salekhard. It was allegedly transported there on the preceding Friday evening.
On Saturday, February 17, Alexei Navalny's spokesperson announced via Platform X that the penal colony administration stated that the oppositionist's body was located in the city morgue in Salekhard. However, Navalny's mother was informed that her son's body wasn't there.
On Friday, February 16, The Russian Federal Penitentiary Service announced that Navalny had suddenly died in Penal Colony No. 3 in Kharpa, located beyond the Arctic Circle in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. According to Russian authorities, the oppositionist "felt unwell after a walk and promptly lost consciousness." The prison services assert that Navalny died despite having called an ambulance and attempted resuscitation procedures.
