“I attraction to you, Vladimir Putin, the decision to the problem relies upon solely on you,” she stated. “Let me lastly see my son. I demand that Alexei’s physique be instantly handed over in order that I can humanely bury him.” The video was posted on Navalny’s YouTube channel.
The director of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Basis, Ivan Zhdanov, additionally printed a letter written by Navalnaya and addressed to Putin.
Navalny’s spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, stated Monday that native investigators refused at hand over the physique to his household and that it will be held for 2 weeks to hold out “chemical experience.” Yarmysh stated Navalny’s workforce believes authorities are delaying the discharge of the physique “to cover the traces of the homicide.”
The direct attraction to the Russian chief, whom Navalny’s household and allies have blamed personally for his demise, mirrored a plea from Navalny’s spouse, Yulia Navalnaya, to Putin in August 2020 asking the president to permit her to fly him to Germany for therapy after he fell unwell from poisoning.
After Navalny fell unconscious on a flight from Moscow to Tomsk, medical doctors at a hospital within the Siberian metropolis of Omsk put him right into a medically induced coma, and native authorities refused to permit Yulia Navalnaya or Navalny’s private medical doctors into the room to see him.
A day later, Yulia Navalnaya wrote a letter to Putin demanding to see her husband and transport him to a hospital in Berlin, primarily saving his life. Medical consultants later concluded that he was poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent.
On Monday, Yulia Navalnaya introduced that she is going to proceed her husband’s work in combating Putin’s maintain on energy, and she or he straight blamed the Russian chief for Alexei’s demise. “My husband couldn’t be damaged, and that’s precisely why Putin killed him in probably the most cowardly means,” she stated.
Cryptically, she added: “We all know precisely why Putin killed Alexei three days in the past. We’ll let you know about it quickly.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday known as Navalnaya’s remarks “boorish and unfounded” however brushed them off, noting that Navalnaya had simply been widowed.
Yulia Navalnaya issued a fast retort on X, beforehand Twitter. “I don’t care how the killer’s press secretary feedback on my phrases,” she posted. “Give again Alexei’s physique and let him be buried with dignity. Don’t cease folks from saying goodbye to him.”
Shortly after the put up, Navalnaya’s new account on X was briefly suspended, for unclear causes, however then restored.
Yulia Navalnaya on a go to to Brussels on Monday urged European leaders to carry Putin accountable for her husband‘s demise.
And on Tuesday in Washington, John Kirby, a White Home spokesperson, stated the Biden administration would announce a “main” sanctions package deal on Friday in response to Navalny’s demise and to Russia’s warfare in Ukraine.
“No matter story the Russian authorities decides to inform the world, it’s clear that President Putin and his authorities are liable for Mr. Navalny’s demise,” Kirby informed reporters in a digital briefing.
He declined to offer particulars on how the brand new sanctions would differ from earlier punitive measures however stated the package deal was not solely “designed to carry Mr. Putin accountable for 2 years of warfare in Ukraine, but additionally particularly supplemented with extra sanctions concerning Mr. Navalny’s demise.”
Ryan reported from Washington. Robyn Dixon and Natalia Abbakumova in Riga, Latvia, and Francesca Ebel in Moscow contributed to this report.
