Alexei Navalny’s team has confirmed the death of the Russian political activist and called for his body to be “immediately” returned to his family
Alexei Navalny, 47, who was serving a lengthy sentence inside a Siberian prison, died at 14:17 local time on February 16, according to a document given to his mother, Lyudmila.
His team has said his body is not in the morgue where officials said he was.
Kira Yarmysh, a spokesperson for the Russian activist, said Alexei Navalny’s mother and lawyer had arrived at the morgue, in Salekhard, a town near the prison he had been serving in, but it was closed.
In an update on X, formerly Twitter, Yarmysh said both of them had been “assured” his body was there by the penal colony.
But Yarmysh goes on to say: “The lawyer called the phone number which was on the door. He was told he was the seventh caller today. Alexei’s body is not in the morgue.”
Protests and vigils have been held near Russian embassies in many countries following the death of the outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin.
More than 100 street protesters were detained in Russian cities, reports say, as people were warned not to rally.
Police have been detaining people across Russia as they tried to lay flowers in memory of Alexei Navalny at monuments to Stalinist political repression.
The numbers are small so far, but likely to grow.
In Novosibisrk, in Siberia, the authorities cordoned off the monument where people were heading to pay their respects. They claimed there were bomb threats. Mourners stuck their flowers into snowdrifts instead, nearby.
In Vladimir Putin’s Russia, the right to public protest has been gradually, but firmly, squeezed – until it’s almost non-existent. It is illegal even to stand with a protest sign in the street without permission. The punishment is a fine or a short spell in police custody.
But if that sign expresses support for Alexei Navalny, there’s a real risk of criminal charges – for extremism.
Alexei Navalny’s entire political organisation – including all its offices across Russia – has been declared “extremist” on a par with terrorist groups like Isis or Al-Qaeda. It means anyone with any links to Navalny – or showing support for him and his team – is taking a major risk.
Alexei Navalny had been in a Russian jail since 2021 on politically-motivated charges.
President Joe Biden has said Vladimir Putin is “responsible” for Navalny’s death.
Tributes have been pouring in from global figures, with former US President Barack Obama describing Navalny as a “fearless advocate for his beliefs” who “inspired millions”.
The G7 held a minute’s silence to pay their respects to Navalny at the Munich Security Conference today.
