Russian oppositionist Alexey Navalny's missing body complicates investigation on unclear cause of death
9:16 AM EST, February 17, 2024
According to another of Navalny’s lawyers, who visited the Investigative Committee in Salekhard, "the cause of Alexey's death is yet to be determined. A new histological examination was conducted". The findings are set to be available the following week. "Undeniably, they are keeping the truth hidden and exerting all efforts to prevent the body's release," states Kira Yarmysh on Twitter.
"The Investigative Committee has now explicitly stated that Alexey's body will not be returned to his family until the completion of the investigation," she further noted in a different post.
Navalny's spokesperson had earlier shared that Navalny's body was missing from the morgue where it was supposedly stored, as per the local authorities.
"Navalny’s lawyer and mother visited the morgue in Salekhard, located in the Northern Russia’s Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. Although the facility was closed, they received assurances from the prison that it was operational and housed Navalny's body. The lawyer dialed the phone number displayed on the door, only to be informed that he was the seventh caller that day and Navalny's body was nowhere to be found," conveyed Yarmysh.
"Simultaneously, during the morning visit to the prison by the lawyer and Navalny's mother, they were told that Navalny's death was due to sudden death syndrome," reported Ivan Zhdanov, a colleague from the opposition.
"Navalny was murdered"
On Saturday, before noon, Navalny's spokesperson confirmed the oppositionist's demise via Service X.
"Alexey Navalny was murdered. According to the official message delivered to Navalny’s mother, his demise occurred on February 16, at 6:17 AM Eastern Time,” announced Yarmysh on Saturday, before noon.
She further commented, "A prison worker stated that Navalny's body is currently in Salekhard and is under the custody of IC investigators. An ongoing 'investigation' with him is in progress".
Yarmysh proceeded with a demand for the "prompt release of the body."
