Navalny’s widow accuses Putin of “Satanism” as body finally released to family

Body of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is released to his family after a week of refusal by Russian authorities while Navalny’s widow accuses Kremlin of ‘satanism’

The body of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been released to his family on Saturday, following a week of refusal by Russian authorities. Navalny, who died on Feb. 16 in an Arctic prison colony under conditions his supporters call political retribution, has become the center of a posthumous controversy that sheds light on the Kremlin’s harsh stance against opposition.

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, has openly accused President Vladimir Putin of “satanism” for initially denying the return of her husband’s body to his family. In an emotionally charged statement, Yulia criticized the Russian president for the ordeal her family has been subjected to, suggesting a direct involvement from Putin in the pressures placed upon Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila.

“You tortured him alive, now you torture him while he is dead,” Yulia Navalnaya declared, vowing to continue her husband’s work and denouncing Putin’s actions as a betrayal of the Christian faith he professes to uphold. This accusation comes amid a backdrop of Putin’s long-standing portrayal of himself as a devout Orthodox Christian and a proponent of “traditional values.”

The controversy around Navalny’s death and the subsequent withholding of his body has highlighted the Kremlin’s efforts to minimize public dissent and quash any potential rallying points for opposition movements. Navalny’s team had to fight for the release of his body, going as far as filing a lawsuit amid threats from local investigators to bury him within the prison grounds if his family did not consent to a “secret” funeral.

The eventual release of Navalny’s body to his mother, as confirmed by Navalny’s spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, marks a small yet significant victory for his supporters. Yarmysh expressed gratitude towards those who stood with the family during this challenging time, though she noted that the details of the funeral remain uncertain, with concerns that authorities might still interfere.

Navalny’s death and the battle for his body’s custody have reignited discussions about Putin’s leadership and the Russian government’s treatment of political dissidents. Yulia Navalnaya’s harsh words for Putin, accusing him of hiding behind Christian values while unleashing violence, including the war in Ukraine, underscore the deep divisions and ongoing strife within Russia’s political landscape.

Source: Newsroom