Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny attends a rally in support of political prisoners on Prospect Zakharova Street in Moscow, Russia, on September 29, 2019.
Sefa Karacan | Anatolia | Getty Images
The Kremlin confirmed on Monday that an investigation into the death of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was ongoing, stressing that “all necessary measures are being taken” to clarify the circumstances of his death.
Navalny, 47, was a well-known figure in Russia and a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He died in an Arctic penal colony where he was serving a 19-year sentence.
World leaders reacted to the news with dismay and suspicion, while Navalny’s allies claim the anti-corruption activist was likely murdered on Putin’s orders. The Kremlin has rejected these allegations. The Russian Foreign Ministry described the political leaders’ reaction as “self-exposure” because there has not yet been a forensic medical examination.
“The investigation is being carried out and all necessary measures are being taken. But so far no results of this investigation have been published, they are not yet known,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a daily press conference on Monday, according to NBC news translation.
“If there is no information, we think it is completely unacceptable to make such statements, which, frankly, are quite rude and crude,” he added, referring to comments from political leaders who blamed Putin for Navalny’s death.
US President Joe Biden said on Friday that “Putin” was responsible for Navalny’s death. “Make no mistake: Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death… What happened to Navalny is further evidence of Putin’s brutality.”
Asked whether the Kremlin was interested in a proper investigation into Navanly’s death, Peskov replied: “The measures provided for by Russian legislation are being taken.”
“Literally repressed”
Previously, Navalny’s spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said on Monday that Navalny’s mother and his lawyers had been denied access to a morgue where his body could be kept.
Yarmysh said on the social media platform
CNBC could not independently verify the report. The Kremlin denied any involvement in blocking the return of Navalny’s body to his relatives.
“This is not a question for us, we are not involved in this matter. This is not a task for the presidential administration,” Peskov said.
Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny’s wife, said Monday that she believed her husband was killed by Putin. In a video statement posted on Navalny’s YouTube channel, Navalnaya pledged to continue his work and called on others to join her.
Navalny, who has been behind bars in Russia since 2021, provided numerous reports on the corruption that flourished under Putin’s leadership.
Putin is known to have long refused to mention Navalny by name in public – a decision the Kremlin has previously said was based on the president’s opinion of the critic.
Navalny had tried to challenge Putin for the presidency of Russia, but his candidacy was rejected in 2018. Putin will run for president again next month, in an election where he faces only symbolic opposition.
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2024-02-19 12:09:28
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