Investigators will not hand over Navalny’s body until March

This Monday, Russian investigators informed the family of the Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalnywho died in prison on February 16, that they cannot release his body for another 14 days due to a “chemical examination”, according to the politician’s associates.

“Investigators have told Aleksej’s lawyers and mother that they will not give them the body because they need another 14 days to perform a chemical examination,” the deceased opponent’s spokeswoman, Kira Yarmish, wrote in X.

According to Yarmish, this is a “lie” and a “mockery” and investigators are not handing over the body in order to “hide” possible evidence of Navalny’s murder.

Navalni’s widow Julija said this today the fight will continue her husband against the Kremlin, whom she blamed for her murder.

“I will continue Navalny’s cause and I invite you to be with me (…). Alexei loved Russia more than anything in the world,” Yulia Navalnaya said in a video broadcast on the deceased opponent’s YouTube channel.

The opponent’s mother, Liudmila Naválnaya, had previously failed to get prison officials or morgue employees to let her see her son’s body in the town of Salehard, near where the opponent was detained.

“They didn’t let them in. They literally pushed one of the lawyers out,” Navalny’s team reported.

According to OVD-Info, an organization that protects the rights of detainees, more than 60,000 people have already signed a popular petition for the authorities to hand over the body to the family.

The UK is evaluating options

The British government is evaluating “all options” to respond to the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, British Foreign Secretary Leo Docherty told parliament on Monday.

The Conservative politician told the House of Commons (below) that his country would “act”, but admitted he could not say what steps it would take, although they would be communicated to MPs in due course.

“I can assure you that we are working and looking at all options,” insisted Docherty, who agreed with another MP – the Conservative Alicia Kearns – in describing the death of the Russian opposition leader as a “murder”.

“You have the right to use the word murder. We strive to hold the Russian state and leaders accountable“, added Docherty, who emphasized that it is “premature” to talk about possible sanctions against the Kremlin, but that all possible directions are being evaluated.

The State Secretary of Foreign Affairs added that, despite Navalny’s death, “his ideals will live forever” and emphasized the heroism and courage of the Russian politician.