Spokesperson Confirms Navalny's Death
Alexei Navalny has died, his spokesperson Kira Yarmysh said on Saturday, citing confirmation from the opposition politician's mother.
His team is also demanding that Navalny's body be immediately released to the family.
"Alexei was killed. His death occurred on February 16, at 2:17 p.m. local time, according to the official message to Alexei's mother," said spokesperson Kira Yarmysh in a Russian and English message posted on the social media platform X on Saturday.
"A colony employee said that Navalny's body is now in Salekhard. It was taken by investigators from the Investigative Committee. Investigations are now underway. We demand that Alexei Navalny's body be immediately released to his family," according to the post.
Алексей Навальный убит. Его смерть наступила 16 февраля в 14:17 по местному времени, как написано в официальном уведомлении, выданном матери Алексея.
— Кира Ярмыш (@Kira_Yarmysh) February 17, 2024
Сотрудник колонии заявил, что тело Навального находится в Салехарде. Его забрали следователи СК. Сейчас они проводят с ним…
On Friday, the prison authorities announced that Navalny had died after losing consciousness following a walk.
Additionally, some of Navalny's closest allies warned that his relatives had not been legally informed of his death, giving them reason to hope.
"There is no reason to believe in state propaganda. They have lied, are lying, and will continue to lie. Do not rush to bury Alexei," Navalny's ally Leonid Volkov wrote on Telegram.
That hope has now disappeared after Navalny's mother and one of his lawyers flew to Yamal, near the Arctic Circle, to visit the high-security penal colony where Navalny was being held.
The 47-year-old politician was arrested and imprisoned in 2021 after returning to Russia from Germany, where he had successfully undergone treatment following his poisoning with a nerve agent, in what his allies believed was an assassination attempt ordered by the Kremlin.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
