NEWS / Navalny’s death certificate reportedly states natural causes

In the wake of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's sudden death, his family finds itself embroiled in a contentious battle over his final rites, centered around the elusive "death certificate." Lyudmila Navalnaya, Navalny's mother, took to YouTube on Thursday to accuse Russian investigators of planning a clandestine burial without affording him a proper funeral.

"They want this (burial) 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 asserted in her impassioned plea, as reported by Thomson Reuters.

Navalny, a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died under mysterious circumstances in the Arctic penal colony where he was serving a lengthy sentence. His death certificate, according to his aides, purportedly cites natural causes as the reason behind his demise, a revelation that has only intensified suspicions surrounding the circumstances of his passing.

The refusal of Russian authorities to promptly release Navalny's body to his family has compounded the grief of his loved ones. Lyudmila Navalnaya, donned in mourning attire, expressed her anguish over the ordeal, decrying the authorities' attempts to dictate the terms of her son's burial. "According to the law, they should have given me Alexei’s body right away, but they have not done so until now. Instead, they are blackmailing me, setting me conditions on where, when and how Alexei should be buried. This is illegal," she asserted firmly.

Navalny's mother recounted the chilling threats she allegedly received from investigators, adding fuel to the already volatile situation. "Looking into my eyes, they say that if I don’t agree to a secret funeral, they will do something with my son’s body," she divulged, underscoring the harrowing pressure she faces.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, has vehemently denied any involvement in Navalny's demise, attributing it to natural causes and assuring a thorough investigation. Yet, the conspicuous silence of President Putin on the matter has only deepened the intrigue surrounding the case.

As the standoff ensues, Navalny's supporters rally behind his family's quest for justice and closure. Ivan Zhdanov, a prominent aide, echoed Navalny's mother's plea for a public burial, emphasizing the need for his admirers to bid him a proper farewell. "I want you, who cared about Alexei, and for whom his death was a personal tragedy, to have an opportunity to say goodbye to him," he implored, echoing the sentiments of countless supporters.