Alexei Navalny's latest death: Putin promotes prison official accused of torturing opposition leader

Alexei Navalny's wife renewed her demand for her husband's body to be returned to her “so that he can be buried with dignity.”

Responding to comments by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in which she described Yulia as “rude” over her accusations of killing her husband with Novichok, Navalnaya said: “I don’t care how the killer’s press secretary comments on my words.

“Return Alexei’s body and allow him to be buried with dignity, and do not prevent people from saying goodbye to him.

“And I really ask all the journalists who are still asking questions: Don’t ask about me, ask about Alexei.”

You can read Yulia Navalnaya's full speech at the EU Foreign Affairs Council below.

But on Monday, as the 47-year-old widow alternated between anger and sadness, she delivered a powerful speech in which she indicated she would be there to help lead the shocked opposition — a risky task.

“I want to live in a free Russia,” the mother of two said in a video message. “I want to build a free Russia.” Emerging from the shadow of her deceased husband, she called on his supporters to “share the anger” and “stand” with her.

Imprisoned American journalist Ivan Gershkovich appeared in a Moscow court today to appeal an extension of his pre-trial detention – but was rejected.

The rejection of the latest appeal by the journalist's lawyer means he is set to remain behind bars until at least Mark 30, marking more than a year since he was detained on espionage charges. Wall Street Journal The US government strongly denies this.

“After the Moscow City Court considered the appeal against the ruling on extending the detention period in relation to Ivan Gershkovich, it left the court ruling unchanged and the appeal unsatisfied,” a statement said. Gershkovitch will remain in custody until March 30.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin did not watch Yulia Navalnaya's video statement, but her assertion that her late husband Alexei Navalny died of poisoning with a Novichok nerve agent was baseless.

In response to a question about Navalnaya's claim that Putin killed her husband, Peskov said he would not comment given that Navalnaya had recently become a widow.

But Peskov said that the accusations against Putin of responsibility for the death of Alexei Navalny are completely unfounded and abhorrent.

The wife of imprisoned Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza praised the “superhuman effort” made by Alexei Navalny’s wife, Yulia Navalnaya, after her husband’s death.

Evgenia Kara-Murza, whose husband is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence in a penal colony in Siberia in conditions almost similar to what Alexei Navalny was subjected to, praised Yulia for her “steadfastness and resilience.”

“Walking through hell with your head held high and an unwavering belief in your strength takes an almost superhuman effort,” she wrote on X, sharing a word from Ms. Navalnaya.

“Like millions of people, I grieve with Yulia Navalnyana and admire her fortitude and resilience. I share her anger.

Russian media published camera footage filmed on the night of February 16 and 17, the same day Navalny died.

Cameras show the convoy crossing the Ob River south of Labetnanji, the only road between Kharp Prison and the Salekhard morgue, where the politician's body is reportedly being held.

Mr. Navalny's mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, and his lawyers say they have been denied entry to the morgue to see his body.

Alexei Navalny's wife's plea to continue the fight against her dead husband has revitalized a Russian dissident community still mourning the loss of its figurehead, a Navalny family friend said. The Independent.

Yulia Navalnaya, 47, said on Monday in a nine-minute video message filled with anger that she would continue her husband's fight for a “free Russia” and called on her supporters to oppose President Vladimir Putin with greater anger than ever before.

Grigory Chkhartishvili, the Russian-Georgian novelist who was indicted in absentia by a Moscow court earlier this month on charges of “justifying terrorism,” said Yulia's message was encouraging.

“Many were in a state of despair after Alexei's death, and the prevailing mood was: 'There is no hope now,'” he said. “Yulia’s charm has completely turned the tide. Now everyone is full of hope and energy again.

“If you really get into politics it could make a big difference. That means killing Alexei would be Putin’s fault.”

He added: “Yulia has two potential abilities. She is the only person capable of uniting the divided opposition factions. More importantly, it attracts – on a personal level – many Russians who are now politically apathetic. Because she is attractive, because she is passionate, because she is a woman, and because her story is powerful.

“We'll soon see if her announcement was spur-of-the-moment or serious. I hope it's the latter.”

A jailed Russian opposition politician has expressed anger at the death of Alexei Navalny, after learning only yesterday.

Ilya Yashin was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison in December 2022 for spreading false information aimed at discrediting the Russian military, under a law passed after Russia launched its invasion.

His arrest followed statements he made on his YouTube channel about war crimes allegedly committed by Russian forces in the Bucha suburb of Kiev.

“News comes slowly to the camp barracks, and I only learned of Alexei Navalny’s death yesterday,” Mr. Yashin wrote on X. It is difficult to convey my shock. It's hard to collect your thoughts. The pain and terror are unbearable.

“Alexey Navalny was my friend. So does Boris Nemtsov. We made common cause and dedicated our lives to making Russia peaceful, free and happy. Now both my friends are dead. I feel a black void inside. Of course, I understand my risks. I am behind bars, my life is in Putin's hands, and it is in danger. But I will continue to stick to my line.

“When I stood over Boris’ body in February 2015, I swore to myself not to be afraid, not to give up and not to run. Nine years later, as I mourn Alexei, I can only repeat that vow.

Vladimir Putin honored the prison minister responsible for depriving Alexei Navalny of food during his last imprisonment with the military rank of colonel-general.

First Deputy Head of the Federal Penitentiary Service, Valery Boyarinev, received this rank on Monday, just three days after Navalny's killing.

Ivan Zhdanov, director of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, reposted a photo of the order Boyarinev issued in March 2023 to IK-6 in the Vladimir region to limit the amount the Russian opposition figure can buy food while in detention.

Vladimir Ussishkin, who founded the No Gulag project, claimed that Boyarinev supervised the torture of Ukrainian prisoners and Navalny in the Russian prison system.