Alexei Navalny died of “natural causes”, a medical report carried out by Russian authorities has claimed.
Navalny’s death was announced last week by the Russian Prison Service, who said he had fallen down while walking and had felt “unwell.”
Navalny’s spokesperson Kira Yarmysh, said on Thursday: “The medical report on death shown to the mother of Alexei Navalny stated that the causes of death were natural,
Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Navalny, has accused Putin of poisoning her late husband. Navalny survived a Novichok attack in 2020, which he later said was orchestrated by Putin.
The Kremlin has denied all allegations that they had any involvement in Navalny’s death.
Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila, has also spoken out against the Kremlin and accused them of blackmailing her over the return of her son’s body.
She alleged that authorities wanted a secret funeral, adding: “They want this to be done secretly, with no farewell.
“They want to bring me to the edge of a cemetery, to a fresh grave and say: here lies your son. I don’t agree to this.”
She added: “They received orders from either the Kremlin or the central office of the Investigative Committee right in front of me.”
Lyudmila is demanding a public funeral so that her son’s supporters can pay tribute.
She continued: “I’m recording this video because they started threatening me, looking me in my eyes and saying if I don’t agree to a secret funeral, they will do something with my son’s body.”
Navalny’s widow, Yulia, has met with US President Joe Biden on Friday.
Biden was seen embracing Yulia as he reassured her that Navalny’s legacy will live on.
The White House also said in a statement: “The President expressed his admiration for Alexei Navalny’s extraordinary courage and his legacy of fighting against corruption and for a free and democratic Russia in which the rule of law applies equally to everyone.”
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